Yummy Mummy Magazine February/March 2020

Yummy Mummy magazine

Spring/Summer 2020 Junior Collection

FEB/MAR 20 issue 32

Babybirds.co.uk Babybirds.co.uk | Boots.co.uk

Yummy Mummy magazine

The luxury parenting publication for discerning mothers living in London

FROM THE

T

EDITOR

he junior collection of Emporio Armani Spring/Summer 2020 made its debut at Pitti Immagine Bimbo, which was held from 20th-22nd last June in Florence. An accurated selection of main pieces of the junior collection will be presented at the prestigious Sala della Scherma at Fortezza da Basso. A special set up, with colourful panels hanging above the display of key seasonal looks and themes.

Most people will remember Myleene Klass from her famous white bikini shower scene on I’m A Celebrity... Ge Me Out Of Here! So it may come as a surprise that she’s not racing to get back into that kind of shape again, after giving birth to her third child.

“I’ve got two daughters, and the last thing I want to do is let them see me standing up and down on the scales when I’ve just given birth to a baby. The last thing I’m going to do is berate myself, and beat my body up after it’s just done something amazing - and is continuing to sustain life.”

London-born A.A. Milne had been a prolific writer long before Pooh Bear hit the scene, inspired by his own real-life son Christopher Robin and his stuffed toy bear (originally called Edward). But once the first Winniethe-Pooh collection was published in 1926, its success defined Milne’s name as one of the most popular children’s authors of all time - and our love for Pooh, Piglet and co has well and truly endured.

The UK’s leading children’s festival, Imagine, returns to Southbank Centre for twelve days jam-packed with the highest quality international children’s theatre, music performances, literature events, comedy shows, creativity workshops, family parties, hands on activities and lots of free family fun for all those aged 0 – 11 and their grown-ups.

Alex Lux Editor

THE TEAM 17, The Broadway, Old Hatfield, Herts, AL9 5HZ, UK

0844 800 8439

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Opinions expressed are strictly those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views or policies of Fish Media Group Ltd. We accept no liability for any mistakes and no responsibility can be taken for the content of these pages.

Editor Alex Lux ••••• Editorial Assistant Katie Miller ••••• Design & Production Lisa Wade ••••• senior business ACCOUNT manager Vanessa Lane ••••• ACCOUNT MANAGERS Nicola Drew Lisa Westerman ••••• Directors Rory Smith Patrick Smith

YUMMY MUMMY

HELP SONIC SAVE THE DAY at

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Saturday 15th – Friday 28th February 2020

amilies are being called to action this half-term as Sonic needs help to defeat his nemesis, Dr. Eggman, and save all the creatures at SEA LIFE London Aquarium.

Dr. Eggman has arrived at the London Aquarium and is planning to take all the sea creatures’ superpowers, turning them into his very own robocreatures for world domination. Families have been given the mission of rescuing all of SEA LIFE London’s residents by completing five tasks and finding the missing letters on the action stations to help Sonic beat Dr. Eggman before it’s too late.

Once families have completed the mission, they can take home a well-deserved reward certificate from Sonic and the gang.

Whilst at the famous South Bank attraction, visitors can also enjoy everything else SEA LIFE London Aquarium has to offer. Whether visitors fancy trekking through Polar Adventure to meet the Gentoo penguins, taking a trip to the Coral Kingdom to explore the UK’s largest living coral reef, or heading over Shark Walk to see the most ferocious of friends, there is something for everyone this half-term.

Head to SEA LIFE London Aquarium from 15th - 28th February 2020 to join the mission and save the day!

4 FEB/MAR 2020

All activities are included with a standard entry ticket.

About Merlin Entertainments plc As Europe’s Number 1 and the world’s secondlargest visitor attraction operator, Merlin operates over 120 attractions, 15 hotels and 6 holiday villages in 25 countries and across 4 continents. The company aims to deliver memorable experiences to more than 65 million visitors worldwide. Visit www. merlinentertainments.biz for more information.

To guarantee entry, book online at www.visitsealife.com/london/tickets

THE DETAILS Open seven days a week from 09.30am-6pm. Please check the SEA LIFE London website for last entry times, as these may vary.

Prices online from £23 per adult, £18.50 per child (3-15 years) if booked ahead of time, or £29 per adult and £23 per child if purchased on the day .

County Hall, Riverside Building, Westminster Bridge Road, London SE1 7PB Closest tube - Westminster

Specialising in Boys Suits, Shoes & Accessories Girls Dresses, Boleros, Shoes & More www.occasionwearforkids.co.uk Use code MUMMY5 for 5% off

YUMMY MUMMY

The Worlds First Freebound Trampoline B

ring the trampoline park into your back garden! The unique BOWL inspires freestyle play in the ultimate safe environment.

In what’s expected to be the most exciting new edition to outdoor play, Plum® the active play and trampoline specialists have developed a new type of trampoline set to disrupt the way children bounce and play. Get ready to inspire children from 6+ to teenagers and beyond, the BOWL allows children to challenge themselves, learn new skills and ultimately build confidence.

The traditional trampoline still stands strong as a first choice for active outdoor play; however with so much now on offer than ever before, including shapes, colour and size both parents and children are looking for something a little bit different.

In a bid to disrupt the norm Plum® asked families what they look for when choosing a trampoline... With look, play experience and safety still top of mind Plum® have identified an opportunity and need to create something very new and very different.

The BOWL freebound trampoline has been designed and tested to be the safest and most thrill seeking trampoline experience. The unique freebound environment revolutionises the traditional flat bed trampoline, transforming the jumping mat into a new curvilinear form with three cutting edge features, CURV, FLEX and BOWL. The CURV creates a new contour play pattern allowing kids to express themselves through dynamic movement in boundless directions, including a unique side bounce.

Super soft FLX bungees are silent… Held by a FLX secure clip; 136 bungees work in unison, powered by movement.

A new iconic BOWL shape that delivers on both form and function, the unique BOWL experience inspires freestyle play in the ultimate safe space.

So what makes the BOWL so unique? Here’ a quick look at its cutting edge features…

The BOWL combines a unique shape with hitech materials to general perfect performance power – taking inspiration from extreme sports and the urban landscape.

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Elongated FLX bungees are made from individual elastic threads that have been encased in woven nylon. A quad formation is created when each bungee is installed for a bigger bounce.

The jumping mat innovation changes the way kids bounce, opening up the space to let the movement flow! A track mat print has been designed to enhance freestyle movement and freebounding during play.

An extra thick, super soft feel and see-through enclosure makes the BOWL supernet…super.

The enclosure provides a safe space as children freebound and isolates the bungees.

Plum® wants the BOWL to provide aspiring young children with a contemporary way to develop their skills or just have fun! Whether your child is a parkour enthusiast, ballet dancer perfecting their skills or they just want to bounce off all their energy, the BOWL is the perfect trampoline!

What can you do?

Plumplay.co.uk/bowl

YUMMY MUMMY

The Enduring Appeal of Winnie-The-Pooh’s Wisdom WORDS: Abi Jackson

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s anyone who’s spent time on the internet will know, there are lots of inspirational quotes and affirmations rattling around in cyber space.

From carefully crafted memes with illustrated backdrops, to basic Tweets that rack up likes and shares; we can’t get enough of comforting, empowering and heart-warming sayings - but one of the most popular sources might at first seem an unlikely one.

Sure, the words of Gandhi and Rumi pop up a lot, along with contemporary wisdom super stars like Brene Brown and Dolly Parton (seriously, a true voice of reason). A very significant proportion though can be credited to none other than a small yellow bear named Pooh.

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“I can remember my dad reading Winne-thePooh to me as a child, I remember the book itself, the voices he’d make to dramatise the characters, and how the stories have stayed with me into adulthood.”

Shereen Low, 40, a journalist from London, incorporated a beloved Pooh extract into her

L

ondon-born A.A. Milne had been a prolific writer long before Pooh Bear hit the scene, inspired by his own real-life son Christopher Robin and his stuffed toy bear (originally called Edward). But once the first Winnie-the-Pooh collection was published in 1926, its success defined Milne’s name as one of the most popular children’s authors of all time - and our love for Pooh, Piglet and co has well and truly endured.

Nearly a century on, the original tales have been translated into more than 50 languages and never gone out of print: Pooh and Christopher Robin’s adventures in Hundred Acre Wood are still a solid bedtime story choice. But it’s not just kids keeping the honey-loving bear alive. It’s us grown-ups, who still find deep comfort in Pooh and his pals’ sweet philosophies.

Harriet Collins, 35, a teacher from Dorset - and also my sister! - is one of the biggest Pooh Bear fans I know (unsurprisingly, we shared the same childhood bookshelves). Although her own words are endlessly buoying, in many low moments she’s propped me up with a perfectlytimed Winnie-the-Pooh quote.

One of her favourites - ‘Always remember you are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think’ (Christopher Robin to Pooh) - hangs on a wall in a print, a gift from a friend during a challenging fertility journey. And while those words helped her weather the storms, she chose another snippet (this time a quote of Pooh’s) to mark the next chapter. “’Sometimes the smallest things take up the most room in your heart,’ was the opening line to my Christening speech, celebrating my beautiful, tiny, miracle twin babies being born. I was just bursting with pride,” Collins explains. The ‘braver than you believe’ quote, she adds, “has become my mantra in all things, and again something I want for my girls.

wedding speech - ‘If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one day so I never have to live without you’ - and a quick look at Etsy and Pinterest is all it takes to see Pooh quotes star for all occasions.

Pooh calls himself a ‘bear of very little brain’, but as his fans know dearly, he is incredibly wise and has a lot to teach us.

He knows friendship is more important than status and possessions (‘A friend is one of the nicest things you can have and one of the best things you can be’), and his stories embodied the value of simple joys, gratitude and mindfulness long before they became ‘trends’ (‘Don’t underestimate the value of doing nothing, of just going along, listening to all the things you can’t hear, and not bothering’).

One of my favourite things about Pooh and co is that they have their priorities right (“It’s more fun to talk to someone who doesn’t use long, difficult words but rather short, easy words like, ‘What about lunch?’”), and how they deal so simply and beautifully with each other’s off days and moments of doubt and worry. No judging, no over-thinking, no attempting to fix and solve everything. Well, apart from with a stroll, a nap and a bit of honey perhaps.

‘I don’t feel very much like Pooh today,’ said Pooh.

‘There, there,’ said Piglet. ‘I’ll bring you tea and honey until you do.’

YUMMY MUMMY

DARE TO DREAM

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nspiration is everywhere. On the other side of the world and just around the corner.

In the blues of a delicate flower and in the graceful geometry of a fin de siècle Ferris wheel. In the logic of fussy clockworks and flying umbrellas alike. In the timeless truth of fairy tales.

In the wonder of nature’s simplicity and real-life babel towers whose makers weren’t afraid to push the sky away and open the realm of reality. Just imagine and start inventing!

The SS20 Cam Cam Copenhagen collection DARE TO DREAM is a tribute to the courage and creativity that move the world. To poets, professors, and pioneers. To the miraculous creations we take for granted today even if they changed the world of yesterday. From airplanes and automobiles to fairy tales and Ferris wheels. From the Eiffel Tower to ancient Eastern arts and crafts. Groundbreaking inventions that came to life because their creators dared to imagine the impossible and make it possible.

INVENTIONS This season’s imaginative print Inventions draws inspiration from the Art Nouveau era where the fascination of movement and dynamism brought along incredible inventions, such as the airplane, the car, and the gramophone. Magical new machines paving the way for a new world, in arts as well as technology and mentality. A bold modernism where human beings 10 FEB/MAR 2020

could suddenly touch the sky – whether from a 324m high steel tower or a flying aircraft. Delight in the airs of Debussy on the gramophone and feel the freedom behind the wheel.

The print features meticulously hand-drawn inventions in rich mustard on a light sand background. A figurative print that is simultaneously modern and nostalgic, scientific and surreal, particular and playful – like a meet and greet with the professor and the poet at the cabaret. Born to inspire storytelling and imagination. Not to mention, new inventions!

FIORI The beautiful blue-toned floral print Fiori salutes the Art Nouveau movement, its romantic essence and its fascination with Japan, as seen in the turn of the century tradition of Liberty prints, drawing inspiration from the East.

Inspired by the curved, organic forms of plants and flowers, Art Nouveau is a meticulously decorative style, influenced by the Japanese arts and crafts tradition for woodblock prints.

Contemporised as in the Fiori print it brings new dimensions to Scandinavian simplicity.

Fiori is a delicate watercolour print, drawn freehand.

The print’s floating flowers motif blends ethereal Japanese notes with references to the Danish tradition for blue-on-white flowers, known and loved from the Royal Copenhagen porcelain as an innate part of the Danish aesthetic heritage.

Delicate yet distinctive in its poetic simplicity, the SS20 print is destined to become a forever stylish icon for all of us with a penchant for the bluish side of life. camcamcopenhagen.com

YUMMY MUMMY

The ex-Towie star talks to Hannah about family life with Rio Ferdinand and how exercise has helped ease her anxiety.

Stephenson

Kate ferdinand: ‘I love the kids with all my heart’

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he’s been trolled on social media, suffered anxieties about her body and spent time in therapy - but ex-Towie star Kate Ferdinand has come out of the other side stronger.

She’s found happiness in family life with her husband, former Premier League footballer Rio Ferdinand, and loves being a stepmother to his three children, Lorenz, Tate and Tia. Today, the former reality TV star is promoting her new lifestyle book - Fitter Happier Healthier - a guide to healthier living and eating, featuring various fitness workouts and accompanying healthy recipes.

It also offers a revealing insight into her life and the anxiety and body dysmorphia issues she experienced growing up, and the more recent snipes from social media trolls.

The bubbly Essex girl recalls in her book that everyone thought she was mad when she left Towie to devote her energies to family life.

“I didn’t feel like it was a good idea to be on a big TV show where a lot of my life was in the spotlight and also try to be stepmum to three young children.

It had to be one or the other, and to me the children were so much more important. There was no

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“The bubbly Essex girl recalls in her book that everyone thought she was mad when she left Towie to devote her energies to family life”

contest,” she writes.

She also had to overcome cruel misconceptions about her motives, she reveals in the pages.

“People had this image of me as a stupid Towie girl who was after Rio for his money. They thought I was pretending to look after his children while having secretly hired a nanny. That’s so not the case,” she writes. “I love the kids with all my heart and I look after them every single day. They mean the absolute world to me. If they weren’t in my life, it just wouldn’t be the same.”

Today, she says she didn’t cope very well with the flak she received in the early days of their relationship.

“I struggled with that. In the media, if people are saying things that you are actually insecure and sensitive about, it can heighten it. But it’s about trying to ignore it. I know I’m a good person, that my intentions are pure and that I need to not worry about what everyone else is thinking.”

Rio, 41, lost his wife Rebecca Ellison to cancer, two years before he was introduced to Kate on holiday in Dubai. They married in September last year and the children are encouraging them to have

a baby, she told ITV’s This Morning recently.

“Maybe one day we will,” she says now. “We have spoken about it but it’s strange because although I didn’t give birth to the children, I do see them as my own. So if we had a child, it wouldn’t be any different. But maybe one day in the future we might potentially have a child of our own.”

She admits coming into a ready-made family wasn’t all plain sailing, though.

“There was a lot to learn. I was 26 and I hadn’t had children before, so obviously I didn’t get everything right at the beginning. It was a process for all of us, but we are through some of the hardest bits and at the moment we are just a really happy unit.”

At their wedding in Turkey, Rio’s sons walked their stepmum - or ‘bonus mum’, as Tia calls her - down the aisle. Tia was maid of honour. All the children made speeches.

There’s a special room in the house where the children have put pictures of their mother and grandmother (Rio’s mother, Janice St Fort, died suddenly too, shortly after he met Kate). They talk about their mother all the time and she encourages them to keep the memories alive.

Today, Kate devotes her life to her family, does the school runs and shares the cooking (she says she couldn’t cook before she met Rio and admits she put on weight initially, often eating the kids’ leftovers).

“I was scooping mash out of the bottom of the pan and eating it. I was so focused on being a stepmum and getting that right, that I lost track of myself for a little while and what I need to do to keep myself on track and happy.”

She says exercise and keeping fit has been a huge factor in her physical and mental wellbeing.

“Exercise is something that’s helped me with anxiety and taken my mind away from things.”

An only child brought up by her mum after her parents split up when she was three, Kate has suffered from anxiety from a young age, which escalated into body dysmorphia as a teenager.

“I’ve had therapy but I think I just put a lot of pressure on myself. It might not be big things, it might be small things.”

Surely, going into a show where viewers scrutinise your looks, figure and behaviour, didn’t help?

“I had anxiety before Towie and I think a lot of

my friends and family were shocked that I dealt with Towie quite well, but it brought on other pressures, like body image. You are out there raw, for everyone to see, and I had a lot of body issues.

“I’m not too keen on my legs and I had to learn to love myself all over again after Towie.”

Therapy has been a massive help, she says. “It makes you feel lighter and understand why you are feeling the way you are - and I would highly recommend it. Sharing a problem with someone who isn’t going to judge you, feels better.”

And she may return to it if she feels the need, she says.

“I’m not having it at the moment but I’m always open to it. As and when I needed it, I would always have it.”

She’s encountered social media trolls too, and admits this was hard to deal with.

“I used to read it all, whether it was about my personality or my looks, and it would really get to me. It has been a really big process trying to not open articles.

“It felt like an addiction and you’d click because you’d want to know what people were saying.

I’m still in the process of learning to overcome it and not click on the articles about me because sometimes they don’t make me feel happy.

“I still look at the comments on Instagram but trying to not let them bother me,” she continues.

“Rio says, ‘Just ignore them’, but it’s hard as a woman who is insecure about certain things.

“If someone says something bad about your body, as a woman that can really affect you. If someone says something bad about me being a stepmum, that can really affect me as well.

“What I’m going through is just trying to be confident in myself, so that what I read doesn’t affect me, because I know who I am.”

Exercise has helped to clear her thoughts, and now she says she feels happy about her body and doesn’t set herself unrealistic goals - but she hasn’t ruled out cosmetic surgery in the future.

“Potentially in the future, you never know, but right now I wouldn’t want to. But if something makes you happy then you shouldn’t be judged for doing it,” she reasons.

“I have days where I don’t feel great and I want to hide away, but I have days when I feel really good.”

THE DETAILS Fitter Happier Healthier: The Ultimate Body Plan by Kate Ferdinand is published by Michael Joseph, priced £16.99.

Available now.

FEB/MAR 2020 13

YUMMY MUMMY

ALL ABOARD!

Brand new railway themed adventure playground opens at family favourite Audley End Miniature Railway in Essex.

Book tickets online now! Use code YM10 to receive a 10% discount*

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he totally unique wooden play equipment is designed to enhance the Audley End Miniature Railway by creating adventurous places for families to spend time together. Launching on the weekend of 21st & 22nd March at a special Mothers Day weekend, Mothers’ and Grandmothers’ can visit for FREE. Audley End Miniature Railway sits nestled in ancient Capability Brown designed woodland and the adventure playground echoes this exceptional setting. The design includes a wooden reproduction of the local bridge over the River Cam designed by 18th century architect Robert Adam, and the giant locomotive is based on a miniature engine on the site.

Much of the wood used is chestnut sourced from Norfolk and little colour is used, allowing the play equipment to blend into its natural surroundings, tucked behind a large plain tree.

Visiting families can let off steam; zooming down slides, climbing through tunnels and enjoying imaginative play on the station platform and waiting room cabin. Children can try their hand at being an engine driver at the helm of the giant locomotive, before climbing aboard the carriages to take their seats for an adventure.

The late Lord Braybrooke opened the miniature railway to the public in 1964 and since then it has continued to grow and develop under the leadership of his eldest daughter Amanda Murray for the last decade.

Amanda said; “We’re so thrilled to open this distinctive new play zone for our visitors. It will encourage children to reconnect with nature, supporting their minds with stimulating outdoor play whilst developing their physical wellbeing and

14 FEB/MAR 2020

Easter Special 4th -19th April, visit the Easter Bunny and his furry friends!

sense of adventure.

“I’m immensely proud of our family railway which continues to be one of the most popular attractions in Essex. As well as our miniature railway which delights visitors with a 1.5mile ride thorough our ancient woodlands, we also have an Fairy and Elf walk, special seasonal events throughout the year, a delicious signal box café, delightful story telling and craft sessions. There really is something for everyone!”

The play equipment, developed and designed by adventure play specialists CAP.Co, is one of a kind in the UK and sure to enchant and delight children, firing their imaginations whilst making memories in the great outdoors. www.audley-end-railway.co.uk * excludes halloween and Christmas special events

o Bo k .c 0 d! ay 02 un ilw r 2 ro ra t fo yg d- un pla y-en isco EW e N ur dle d D ent .au 10% AN adv ww or BR en t w 10 f d a oo w YM W e no ode lin e c o n Us k o.u

Audley End Miniature Railway offers the perfect family day out, firing young imaginations whilst making memories in the great outdoors!

The railway is open during the school holidays, with a full programme of special events throughout the year including Mother’s Day, Easter and the Summer Festival.

As well as an enchanting miniature train ride through the Audley End estate, children can wander in awe through the magical groves on the Elf and Fairy Walk, enjoy craft making, story telling and other onsite activities.

BRAND NEW for 2020 is the unique wooden adventure playground designed to enhance the Audley End Miniature Railway by creating adventurous places for families to spend time together.

Visiting families can let off steam; zooming down slides, climbing through tunnels and enjoying imaginative play on the station platform and waiting room cabin. Children can try their hand at being an engine driver at the helm of the giant locomotive, before climbing aboard the carriages to take their seats for an adventure.

Book online at: www.audley-end-railway.co.uk

YUMMY MUMMY

Girl- purple lightweight knitted cardigan, £170, knitted dress £200, leather-lining ballerinas, £220 Boy – denim suit, £420, pique shirt, £66, fedora hat, £75, suede shoes, £160

Spring/Summer 2020 Junior Collection T he junior collection of Emporio Armani Spring/Summer 2020 made its debut at Pitti Immagine Bimbo, which was held from 20th-22nd last June in Florence.

An accurated selection of main pieces of the junior collection will be presented at the prestigious Sala della Scherma at Fortezza da Basso. A special set up, with colourful panels hanging above the display of key seasonal looks and themes.

The focus on the “mini me” is even more evident than usual this season. The collection offers several items that are reminiscent, in a fun and lighthearted way, of the most iconic shapes of jackets, suits and other pieces that feature in the Emporio Armani adult wardrobe. With prints and graphics also borrowed from this grown-up world, the comprehensive selection of outfits for kids includes looks that range from casual to sporty to formal (for ceremonial occasions); there is also a small, dedicated swimwear offer.

For girls the delicate colour palette includes red, powder pink, burnt orange and champagne, brightened with lurex threads and touches of gold and sequins on knitwear and dresses; for boys the

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colours are more vibrant, like strongly contrasting fluorescent green and fluorescent yellow.

The materials are lightweight for summer: poplin with watercolour-effect prints for dresses; cotton terry for the seaside; silk for festive wear; linen and seersucker for trousers and Mandarin-collar jackets.

Technical fabrics and leather are used for more sporty garments.

The logo features strongly throughout the entire collection, including on outfits for newborn babies, appearing in a stylised, softer version for girls, and on holographic and fluorescent prints for boys; it is used in an all-over design for accessories. The Manga Bear, with its now unmistakable silhouette, returns to the Junior line, adding a characterful touch to knits and sweatshirts; bags are even created in the form of this character.

Footwear is contemporary and up to date, with strong colour combinations and a chunky look that is in keeping with current trends.

The collection is available now in select Emporio Armani Junior retailers including Harrods, Selfridges, Childrensalon, Child’s Play and at www.armani.com

“The collection offers several items that are reminiscent, in a fun and lighthearted way, of the most iconic shapes of jackets, suits and other pieces that feature in the Emporio Armani adult wardrobe”

Girl- crepe dress with all-over logo pattern, £230, leather-lining ballerinas £220 Boy – tuxedo suit with satin lapels, £450, waistcoat with satin lapels, £185, pure linen shirt with embroided logo, £100, silk bowtie, £37, leather monk shoes with strap, £175

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YUMMY MUMMY

Girl – towel fabric logo sweater and shorts, £120, fedora hat, £95 Girl – cotton logo pattern jumpsuit, 150£, plain weave headband, £70

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Boy – cotton polo, £95, bermuda cotton shorts, £70, fedora hat, £95, leather sneakers, £90 Boy – cotton t-shirt with stripes, £80, sweatshirt with logo band, £140, jogging trousers with logo band, £130, leather sneakers £90

FEB/MAR 2020 19

YUMMY MUMMY

Boy – hoodie with logo, £110, denim jeans, £105, nylon baseball cap, £35, thick-soled nappa sneakers, £200 Boy – geometric logo print jacket, £175, cotton trousers, £105, cotton t-shirt wth logo and elastic band, £60, visor, £70, thick soled nappa sneakers, £200

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Girl – cotton sweater with ruffle puff sleves, £75, linen stripe trousers, £70, plain weave headband, £70, open toe leather sandals, £200 Girl – linen stripe dress, £150, open toe leather sandals, £200

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YUMMY MUMMY

Girl- pink cotton dress, £120, denim logo bag, £82, visor, £70, thick soled nappa leather sneakers, £200 Girl – stretch cotton t-shirt and shorts with elasticated band, £185, wool cap, £42, bovine leather with rubbery effect sneakers, £90

22 FEB/MAR 2020

Boy- reversable logo jacket in nylon, £175, jersey t-shirt with logo, £80, strech-cotton jeans, £90, thick soled nappa sneakers, £200 Boy – knitted logo design jumper, £145, pvc cap with logo, £70, strech-cotton jeans, £90, open-toe sandals, £185

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YUMMY MUMMY

Are we there yet?

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2020’s top family holiday destinations

amily holidays make for some of our fondest childhood memories. The excitement, the days off school, flying in a plane and the sunny beach! To create the perfect place to make these memories can be the difficult part. Family holidays that keep everyone happy can be hard to come by, especially if you want to go luxury. It depends on the ages of your kids, time of year and what your family interests are.

We’ve picked some of the best family holidays destinations for 2020 - with some real gems you may not have even thought of…

HAWAII Aloha! With gorgeous beaches, tropical waves and child friendly activities, you will be surprised to find so many home comforts in Hawaii. Whether you are visiting with babies, toddlers or active teens, families will find plenty of ways to keep busy, or as relaxed in a Hang Ten state as they wish. From donkeyriding on Molokai, visiting Pearl Harbour or Waikiki on Oahu, snorkelling off Molokini and riding the sugar cane train on Maui, or building sandcastles on the black sand beach on the Big Island, Hawaii is a family paradise.

BALI, INDONESIA Bali is one of the most family-friendly destinations in the world. From the rice terraces of Canggu to orangutan encounters in Kalimantan and Sumatra.

There is snorkelling and sailing and stunning waterfalls that are worth exploring with little ones.

In keeping with the relaxed vibes of Bali, there are yoga classes and spas that cater for children.

There are also many opportunities for kids to learn about Balinese culture and traditions just by walking around and exploring. It’s definitely worth experiencing this side of Bali.

Koh Chang, Thailand

THAILAND There is so much more to Thailand than the infamous streets of Bangkok. Head out to a smaller, quieter island like Ko Chang which literally translates as ‘Elephant Island’. It is an amazing location to visit and people of all ages can find something appealing in this place of natural beauty.

Besides the famous diving and snorkelling, there are also cruising, sailing and yachting available for a marine time fun. For land lovers, Koh Chang has Tree Top Adventure Park, cave exploration, biking and trekking or elephant and horse riding in store.

For the family & kids who just want to relax, the white sandy beaches are amazing.

MEXICO Direct charter flights have made Mexico increasingly popular with British families over the last few years.

With over 5,300 miles of shoreline, many travellers flock to the country’s gorgeous sandy beaches.

The American influence in the resort of Cancun means great service and lots of child-friendly food options, so even the pickiest of children tend to enjoy Mexican food, with tasty choices like tacos, quesadillas, and grilled chicken or steak available on most menus. There is also no shortage of activities, with historic Aztec sites such as Chichen Itza nearby and a Wet ‘n Wild park in Cancun itself.

ORLANDO, FLORIDA Every child’s dream! Their wildest fantasies are 24 FEB/MAR 2020

“Direct charter flights have made Mexico increasingly popular with British families over the last few years. With over 5,300 miles of shoreline, many travellers flock to the country’s gorgeous sandy beaches”

Orlando, Florida

brought to life right before their eyes. From SeaWorld® and the magical Wizarding World of Harry Potter at the Universal Orlando Resort, to meeting Mickey, Minnie and friends at Walt Disney World Resort. Discover attractions you can’t experience anywhere else! Orlando has something to excite every member of the family so parents can relive their childhood with the ET and Back to the Future attractions. But there is more to the Sunshine State than theme parks. There are clean, sandy beaches, buzzing cities such as Miami and wildlife parks to explore. Getting around is easy in a hired car, and a multi-base trip is a great way to see a lot in a short time..

SOUTH OF FRANCE

NEW YORK The city that never sleeps and a fantastic adventure for families. Do a tour! Guides are great at making it fun and interesting for kids (and adults). A visit to Central Park and Legoland, the Empire State Building with its dazzling city views and Bronx Zoo, home to 4,000 animals, many in open natural settings. The iconic children’s toy store, FAO Schwartz is filled with an overwhelming choice of toys and the iconic walk-on piano – made famous in the hit film ‘Big’ with Tom Hanks. Catch one of the many iconic shows on Broadway or take the Cupcake Tour of Greenwich Village. 2 hours of cupcakes and gelato from 6 different shops! The ultimate day out in NYC is to take a helicopter trip for the most spectacular views and an unbelievable experience.

When you think of the South of France, a few things may spring to mind. The glamour of the French Riviera, the blindingly beautiful lavender fields in Provence, the snow-capped mountains of the Midi-Pyrénées or the vineyards of Languedoc, there’s space for everyone. With sandy beaches, imposing castles, horseback riding and aquariums, families are truly spoilt for choice. For something a little different, pay a visit to Argelès Aventure in Languedoc – this high-wire adventure park is one for the whole family to enjoy. Even children as young as two can have a go with the unique ‘Ouisiti’ course, so nobody needs to miss out.

“The ultimate day out in NYC is to take a helicopter trip for the most spectacular views and an unbelievable experience”

FEB/MAR 2020 25

YUMMY MUMMY

MYLEENE KLASS ON HER POST-BABY BODY AND HAVING A NEWBORN IN HER 40s The model, presenter and musician chats to Lauren Taylor about live with her latest arrival Apollo.

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ost people will remember Myleene Klass from her famous white bikini shower scene on I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! So it may come as a surprise that she’s not racing to get back into that kind of shape again, after giving birth to her third child.

“I’ve got two daughters, and the last thing I want to do is let them see me standing up and down on the scales when I’ve just given birth to a baby,” says Klass. “The last thing I’m going to do is berate myself, and beat my body up after it’s just done something amazing - and is continuing to sustain life.”

The model and presenter, and her partner Simon Motson, welcomed their first child together, Apollo, in August. Klass is already mum to daughters Ava, 12, and Hero, 8, with ex-husband Graham Quinn, while Motson is also dad to a son and daughter of the same ages.

“It’s funny because I’m known for putting on bikinis, but who’s to say there’s a prototype for how people should look in a bikini? I’ll wear a bikini at whatever size I am,” she says.

The 41-year-old says she gained five stone during her pregnancy with Apollo - more than her previous two. “It sounds ludicrous when I say it out loud!

I’ve lost just over three, I’m sure the other two will melt away when I finally stop breastfeeding.

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“I’m not trying to shift it yet. It’s almost an impossibility because my body wants to hold on to whatever it can to make sure the baby is fed.”

She isn’t feeling pressure to lose weight as a person in the public eye, that’s for sure - “Look at people like Lizzo, who literally do stick two fingers up to the establishment and celebrate what their bodies are capable of ” - but says her body definitely feels different after having a baby in her 40s, compared to the first two times around.

Having a newborn to care for is also a “massively different experience” at 41, she says. “I’m more relaxed for sure. When you have a child when you’re younger, it takes one comment from someone else - they think your baby’s hungry, or that he/she is crying, and you start really second guessing yourself.

Whereas this time around, you just let everything flow over you. I don’t sweat the small stuff.

“Mentally, I’m stronger than I’ve ever been.”

She’s even found it’s made her appreciate night feeds and the lack of sleep, in a way. “I don’t sleep at all! If you cut me open I’d bleed coffee. But I love it because I know it’s quite fleeting. Even the night feeds I look forward to, bizarrely! You understand just how precious this time is, and how quickly it goes.

“It’s because I’ve got so much support doing it this time, with Simon. I’ve been a single mum for a very long time, and to now have a partner, it’s just a

“Klass is fronting a campaign with Kellogg’s as they launch their first kid’s breakfast cereal in 20 years, W.K Kellogg by Kids, the first no-added sugar, vegan cereal to contain fruit and vegetables”

really lovely experience for both of us.”

With five children between them, she describes family mealtimes as “mental”. She says: “I make the same thing [for everyone] but Simon seems to think it’s more like a hotel, and he does different things for the children.”

Klass is fronting a campaign with Kellogg’s as they launch their first kid’s breakfast cereal in 20 years, W.K Kellogg by Kids, the first no-added sugar, vegan cereal to contain fruit and vegetables.

“Any mum knows it can be a challenge once your children start going to other people’s houses, or once they’re at school they can make their own choices, so you want to make sure that before you send them off, you’re giving them something that’s really going to benefit them,” she says, adding that her daughters really like the new cereal range: “When I said ,’There’s vegetables in there’, they couldn’t believe it.”

Having two older children and a newborn at the same time must come with its challenges though.

She says while Apollo’s needs are quite basic, “with Ava it’s the intricate needs of trying to navigate social media, what’s going on with her friends, what trends are going on, how she’s coping with school work. She’s becoming a woman, and that brings a whole host of new challenges.”

Instagram, Snapchat and beyond can be a minefield for parents who didn’t grow up with the same things. “The most important thing is that you trust your children and you give them the tools [they need]. Otherwise you’ll be forever helicopter parenting,” says Klass.

“I don’t get it right all the time, I just try my best.”

W.K Kellogg by Kids is the first children’s product from the cereal maker to include fruit and vegetables, designed and created for kids and the whole family.

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YUMMY MUMMY

Italy with the family Kids are at the heart of Italian culture, so it’s no surprise the country is geared up to welcome tourists of all ages, says Sarah Marshall

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nless you’re surrounded by other understanding parents, taking children to beaches, restaurants and hotels can be an undertaking riddled with apologies and concerns about what they might do next.

But in Italy, a country where family is sacred, children are welcome everywhere. Here’s why...

The food pleases all ages Every child loves pizza, pasta and ice cream - so it’s impossible to go wrong in Italy if you have hungry little mouths to feed. Best of all, most restaurants are happy to accommodate young diners, and it’s not uncommon to see plastic slides and play-pits being used in the corner of a terrace. And early to bed? Here, that concept simply doesn’t exist. All family generations are well respected, but bambinos are especially adored, so why wouldn’t they deserve a place at the table too?

You can style it out even with kids in tow Carrying bags of nappies, baby bottles and soft toys shouldn’t mean you have to compromise on style.

Compared to their ‘family-friendly’ competitors in other European destinations, Italy has an inherent sense of refinement and style. You won’t be forced

out of the pool by this year’s latest gaudy inflatable, and there’s not a sniff of drunk and disorderly behaviour on the beach.

The flights times are short Any parent who can keep their child still and quiet on long haul flights is either a magician or extremely lucky. Generally, little fidgets don’t fare well in the air - which is why it makes sense to stay closer to home.

Most Italian destinations can be reached in under three hours, and even some of the most southern sunspots have regional connections in the UK.

Everyone will learn something new Italy is overflowing with historical gems making the country one great big living museum. It’s the perfect place for kids to delve into the past - learning about the power and influence of the Romans, or imagining what life might have been like two thousand years ago in the time-frozen city of Pompeii. Simply wandering around cities like Venice and Florence is a history lesson in itself.

The welcome is warm (even if you scream and shout) Hospitality is key for Italians. They smile a lot, want to talk to everyone and will treat you as a friend, relative or family member - making it a relaxing place to be on holiday. Rather than being seen as a nuisance or an irritation, children are welcome everywhere - and grandparents are also treated with respect.

Everything is delivered with love Italians are known and loved the world over for their exuberant personalities. They are loud, prone to exaggeration and highly expressive - exactly like kids. So parents can rest assured that in many cases, it’s actually the Italian adults who are bold and boisterous - making younger upstarts seem incredibly calm.

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3 great family resorts to try...

Sardatur, a specialist tour operator who sell high-end family holidays to Italy, reveal their recommendations.

Falkensteiner Capo Boi Resort, Villasimius, Sardinia Multiple restaurants are open day and night at this resort, making it the perfect spot for a foodie family. Freshly-caught fish and meat specialities are prepared at the restaurant’s live cooking stations, alongside authentic pasta, and traditional pizzas straight from the wood-fired oven.

Verdura Resort, Sciacca, Sicily Many holidaymakers feel so at home at this Sicilian resort that they come back year after year.

Book early to bag the popular, connecting deluxe rooms. as they get snapped up so quickly.

Resort Valle dell’Erica, Hotel La Licciola in Santa Teresa Di Gallura, Sardinia The resort’s popular pools are a great place for meeting new friends and for kids to play, without worrying about noise levels and disrupting peaceseeking couples. www.sardatur-holidays.co.uk

Things to do with the family in Provence

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t’s hard to beat the easy-access and guaranteed sunshine of the Sud Sainte Baume region in southern Provence for a family holiday. Throw in our award-winning family-friendly villa, new boutique hotel and the abundance of activities nearby and we think it’s the ultimate holiday choice for UK families.

Here are five local activities we’ve tried and tested for you: • Tree climbing Head to Le Royaume des Arbres and get ready to explore the canopies of the French forest in Le Castellet. With high wires and zip lines, a variety of courses ranging from lower ground for the little ones, to high wire activities there’s something for everyone.

• Head to the beach Spend the day on Bandol’s beaches – this pretty town has several wonderful sandy beaches to choose from as well as easy access to restaurants and ice cream vendors! Les Lecques Beach is also a good choice with its shallow waters.

• A day out at Circuit Paul Ricard For a huge range of activities visit the Paul Ricard Racetrack where you’ll find track activities from Go Karting, Quadbiking to mini motorcycling, as well

as a free fall jump, zip wire, climbing walls and an activity course with ropes.

• Head to France’s most beautiful market Let the kids spend their pocket money at Sanarysur-Mer market – recently voted France’s most beautiful market! Always fun, markets still feature heavily in French day-to-day life and offer a cultural experience for all ages.

• Go biking Provence offers a fantastic array of biking opportunities, particularly in Sud Sainte Baume – a quiet, unknown area. It’s easy to spend hours exploring trails winding through the AOC Bandol Vineyards.

Hire bikes or bring your own, pack a picnic and enjoy a full day out in the sunshine as a family. www.olivesandvines.eu

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YUMMY MUMMY

The perfect family break

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f you’re looking for a family friendly hotel in the UK then look no further. The Sands Resort Hotel near Newquay is an ideal base for a Cornwall adventure.

With spacious two-room suites, indoor and outdoor pools, a gorgeous restaurant and bar as well as lots of family activities, they have thought of everything you need for a relaxing holiday with your offspring.

There is so much to do at Sands Resort Hotel.

Children love discovering the enchanted maze, conquering the pirate ship or taking advantage of the free bodyboards and wetsuits hire.

There are also lots of sports and activities to take advantage of from zip wires to tennis from croquet and FootGolf and even a bouncy castle.

Don’t worry if the weather isn’t on your side, that’s all catered for too with an indoor playground, games room and soft play as well as a fabulous entertainment programme during school holidays including a magician, ventriloquist, visits from the local owl sanctuary and a silent disco.

Parents who are looking for some time to relax can take advantage of the Ofsted registered crèche and kids clubs.

Enjoy a relaxing massage at the spa or a drink on the stunning Atlantic terrace whilst your little ones make the most of the complimentary childcare sessions.

The hotel also offers flexible family dining options, so you don’t have to change your routine just because you’re away from home. From early family suppers to adult-only dining, you can enjoy mouth-watering dishes to suits all ages.

Take advantage of the complimentary baby-

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“There is so much to do at Sands Resort Hotel. Children love discovering the enchanted maze, conquering the pirate ship or taking advantage of the free bodyboards and wetsuits hire”

listening service whilst you enjoy a meal in the restaurant. With mouth-watering dishes such as catch of the day and delicious steaks and scrumptious vegetarian options, you’ll certainly not go hungry.

If you’re looking to explore then nearby Porth Beach is only a short walk from the hotel whilst Watergate Bay is a 5-minute drive. Popular family attractions like the Blue Reef Aquarium, Newquay Zoo and the famous Eden Project can all be easily reached by car.

With all of this on the great Cornish coast, you really don’t need to go abroad to create lasting family memories and have a holiday that you all enjoy.

Book your family break at Sands Resort Hotel & Spa from £51 per adult, per night and including breakfast. Child discounts apply according to age.

Or take advantage of the 3-night Baby & Toddler Break from just £327 and including accommodation in a 2-room suite, breakfast every morning, dinner on one night and a £30 voucher for extras, plus all the fabulous facilities mentioned above.

Find out more at www.sandsresort.co.uk

YUMMY MUMMY

A childhood remembered with

SIMPSON TRAVEL

Bring me Sunshine Simpson Travel’s family holidays are carefully selected to take the stress out of holidaying with young children in tow. From expansive gardens and fenced pools to complimentary infant packs and rash vests, they’ve thought of it all. Family Favourite Villas include garden games and a box of toys to keep the little ones out of mischief and if you’re after expert childcare, they have an excellent range of crèches, clubs and activity programmes run by their own UK-qualified nannies.

Holidays with Childcare Whether you’ve got babes in arms, tearaway toddlers or school age children in need of adventure, Simpson Travel have a childcare solution to suit.

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Their crèches and kids’ clubs enjoy two idyllic Greek island settings, Mousses Villas in Lefkada and Periyali Villas in Zakynthos, catering for little ones aged 6 months to 11 years.

Beach Life In July and August, Simpson Travel makes beach life a breeze with an inspiring programme of supervised activities for children aged 5-11. Under the expert supervision of Simpson’s childcare team, children make new friends and enjoy pool games, treasure hunts, movie nights and more while parents kick back and unwind. Complementary for guests staying at their Bella Mare Hotel in Corfu and GK Beach Hotel in western Crete, the glorious beachfront settings are hard to beat. Perfect for a memorable family holiday where the kids enjoy a little freedom and adventure while grown-ups enjoy a little down time too. www.simpsontravel.com

“In July and August, Simpson Travel makes beach life a breeze with an inspiring programme of supervised activities for children aged 5-11”

YUMMY MUMMY

IMAGINATION THROUGH PLAY E stablished back in 2001, Win Green is an organisation with a highly targeted ambition for bringing positive experiences for children in the form of high-quality, traditional toys. “At Win Green, we believe that children should be encouraged from an early age to explore their imaginations through play, allowing them to use their own creativity to develop their playing and learning skills,” explains Sue Sands, Director.

Focusing entirely upon charm and attention to detail, Win Green produces well-made products which stand the test of time – specifically, these products include a wide selection of playhouses, wigwams and accessories to provide children with inventive, colourful and exciting opportunities for play. Designs include a Gingerbread Cottage, Pirate Shack, Beach House, Butterfly Cottage, Knight’s Castle, Fairy Cottage, Toy Shop, Cowboy Wigwam, Pavilion and the show-stopping Theatre! The co-ordinating accessories include Toy Bags, Bean Bags and Floor Quilts. 2020 sees the introduction of their newest design…a Woodland Wigwam! In gorgeous pastel blues and pinks, appliqued with ladybugs, a hedgehog and the cutest bunny, this is a wonderful addition to their collection.

All of Win Green’s products are made from durable 100% hand-woven cotton using traditional Indian weaving and dying techniques. The

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playhouses and wigwams are quick and easy to assemble, using a light metal framework and they come with their own storage bag making it convenient to move from place to place.

As well as offering a great product, Win Green provides fantastic Customer Service. A small team of three, you can rely on a personable one-to-one service making your experience as seamless and simple as possible.

Win Green receives wonderful feedback from their customers from around the world, with one such customer, namely Anna, commenting, “My little girl has been lucky enough to have your fabulous Butterfly Cottage from the age of 2 - she is now 6! She adores the cottage and has held tea parties, bedtime stories and teddy bears’ sleepovers.

It has also been a shop, a hospital, and a dentist.

Your creativity has helped enable some fabulous childhood memories. When she is much older, I will pack it away carefully in the bag and store for any future grandchildren. I normally pass things on to friends and family - but I couldn’t part with this.”

Win Green is a must-have range for those looking to create experiences with their children and with gorgeous designs for boys and girls, you will be sure to find the perfect backdrop to all the fun your children can have…whatever magical tales of makebelieve they choose to explore! www.wingreen.co.uk

YUMMY MUMMY

The Very Hungry Caterpillar AT

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SL London Zoo will be bringing the classic children’s book The Very Hungry Caterpillar to life this Easter, with a whole host of free (with zoo entry) activities celebrating caterpillars, butterflies and moths.

From storytelling sessions inside a giant butterfly egg to crawling through the caterpillar’s snacks assault course style - in search of the right food to help them grow, kids will be invited on a journey of discovery through the lifecycle of the butterfly, ending up face to face with the colourful creatures themselves in the Zoo’s magical Butterfly Paradise.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar was designed, illustrated, and written by Eric Carle. It features a caterpillar who eats his way through a wide variety of foodstuffs before pupating and emerging as a butterfly. The winner of many children’s literature awards, it has sold almost 50 million copies worldwide and described as “one of the greatest childhood classics of all time” ZSL - the international conservation charity behind London Zoo - is a global force for conservation. The world’s first scientific zoo, opened to the public in 1847, ZSL London Zoo has been at the forefront of zoological care and learning ever since: they opened the world’s first Reptile House in 1849, the first public Aquarium in 1853, the first Insect House in 1881 and the first Children’s Zoo in 1938! Today, ZSL London Zoo is home to 582 species and is still considered a world leader in animal care and expertise, while working around the world to bring critically endangered animals back from the brink.

Visiting ZSL London Zoo is a brilliant way to immerse yourself in the animal kingdom and find out more about the natural world. With interactive and inspiring exhibits such as:

Land of the Lions An Indian-themed enclosure for ZSL London 36 FEB/MAR 2020

Zoo’s pride of endangered Asiatic lions. The enclosure is 2,500 square metres in size, and designed to resemble the Gir Forest National Park in India, the last wild home of these magnificent animals. The exhibit, also home to a troop of Hanuman langurs and a band of dwarf mongoose, demonstrates how the lions’ natural habitat overlaps with the local urban environment and how people and wildlife are co-existing peacefully in this unique territory.

Tiger Territory London Zoo is home to Critically Endangered Sumatran tiger, Asim, who arrived from Denmark in January 2019. The double paddock home features a swimming pool for the water loving feline, high vantage spots for him to survey his territory and heated rocks for him to lie on in the cooler months.

The wider area is also home to Reeves’s muntjacs, Northern white-cheeked gibbons and red river hogs.

The enclosure is 2,500 square metres (27,000 square feet) in size, and features authentic Indonesian plant life to replicate the tiger’s natural territory, as well as masses of information about the threats facing the species, of which there are just 400 left in the wild – and the work ZSL is doing to protect them.

Gorilla Kingdom Home to a troop of four western lowland gorillas, Gorilla Kingdom is set on its own island with a moat, caves, climbing frame and even an indoor gym for the gorillas to use! The Gorilla Kingdom area is also home to Diana monkeys, eastern black and white colobus, white-naped mangabeys and crested black macaques.

Rainforest Life and Night Life Rainforest Life is one of the Zoo’s many immersive walk-through exhibits, meaning there are no

“Penguin Beach opened on 26 May 2011 and is home to a colony of lively Humboldt penguins”

barriers between visitors and the animals who call it home. Heated to 27 degrees, the indoor area is a replica rainforest nestled at the heart of the zoo, home to a variety of species including two-toed sloths Marilyn, Leander and baby Elio, golden lion tamarins, emperor tamarins, red-faced spider monkeys and tamanduas. It’s also home to one of the zoo’s most famous residents: Pete, the selfietaking plant, whose ground-breaking work with the zoo’s conservation tech specialist team can be seen in action. The building also has an underground “Nightlife” area, home to fascinating nocturnal species such as Seba’s short-tailed bats, slender lorises and Malagasy giant jumping rats.

The Reptile House

Animal Adventure

One of London Zoo’s oldest and most famous buildings, the Reptile House houses several reptile and amphibian species, including Galapagos tortoises, Komodo dragons, Annam leaf turtles, Fiji banded iguanas, king cobras, axolotls, caecillians and poison dart frogs. It’s also home to four Chinese giant salamanders who were rescued by UK Border Force after being illegally smuggled into the country from China in cereal boxes. It’s also a great spot for Potterheads - the Reptile House featured in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.

Built on the site of the Zoo’s original Children’s Zoo - the first of its kind when it opened in 1938 - Animal Adventure retains its spirit of bringing children closer to nature through play and features playgrounds, a mini climbing wall and a very popular Splash Zone. Don’t forget to bring your bathers! An open-air amphitheatre is the place to go for fascinating daily talks, where zookeepers will reveal how llamas trek across the Andes, and why young meerkats have to set out on their own to find a mate. Young animal adventurers will be able to spot the Zoo’s resident pygmy goats, kune kune pigs, llamas and donkeys as they set off on regular walks around the area, with plenty of opportunities to meet ZSL’s expert keepers and get the inside story on their work.

Your little ones can also enjoy the Zoo’s exciting experiences like JUNIOR KEEPER FOR A DAY, BED BUGS SLEEPOVERS, MEET THE MEERKATS…or PENGUINS… or MONKEYS… or GIRAFFES! From feeding fun to demonstrations and unique encounters there’s something for everyone at ZSL London Zoo!

Penguin Beach Penguin Beach opened on 26 May 2011 and is home to a colony of lively Humboldt penguins.

Until March 2017, a famous rockhopper penguin named Ricky also lived here, before moving to ZSL Whipsnade Zoo to be with the Zoo’s colony of rockhoppers. Visitors still ask after him! The 1200 sq metre pool, is four times bigger and three times deeper than the Zoo’s old penguin pool, while for baby penguins who are too small to jump straight in the deep end, Penguin Beach also includes a special penguin nursery comprising a chick incubation unit and a pool where the youngsters can learn how to swim. Fascinating fact: London Zoo’s penguins were the inspiration behind the logo of Penguin Books. The company name had already been chosen when an employee was dispatched to the Regent’s Park zoo to produce some sketches for the logo, which remains today.

THE DETAILS More details regarding The Very Hungry Caterpillar to be announced soon ZSL London Zoo is open every day of the year except Christmas Day. Head to www.zsl.org for more information and to book tickets. Book ahead for 10% online discount.

Regent’s Park, London, NW1 4RY

Butterfly Paradise Butterfly Paradise is a walkthrough butterfly tunnel where the beautiful insects flutter all around. It houses several different species of butterfly and moth from around the world, as well as plant species specially selected to provide nectar and breeding areas for the insects. Species you can see include the clipper butterfly, blue morpho butterfly, atlas moth, zebra longwing, glasswing butterfly and postman butterfly. The exhibit also features a caterpillar hatchery and a pupa display cabinet, where visitors can learn about the different types of pupae and the development of new butterflies.

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YUMMY MUMMY

Imagine Children’s Festival Returns to Southbank Centre, 12 – 23 February 2020

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he UK’s leading children’s festival, Imagine, returns to Southbank Centre for twelve days jam-packed with the highestquality international children’s theatre, music performances, literature events, comedy shows, creativity workshops, family parties, handson activities and lots of free family fun for all those aged 0 – 11 and their grown-ups.

Imagine Children’s Festival takes over the 17-acre cultural quarter on the banks of the River Thames for its nineteenth year, dedicating the February half term to families enjoying and discovering all kinds of art and culture together. Literature, storytelling and children’s access to books have always been a prominent theme of the festival and this year is no exception.

Literature and storytelling include: • Journey through J.K. Rowling’s much loved Harry Potter series with Fleurble Laffalot - learn fun facts about the Harry Potter books and witness some of the key elements of life at Hogwarts.

• Celebrated children’s author Michael Rosen presents his new book The Missing: The True Story of My Family in World War II to Imagine – a personal, powerful and resonant account of Rosen’s search for relatives who ‘went missing’ during the Second World War. Rosen will perform passages from his book as well as poems, old and new: an extraordinary account and a powerful tool for talking to children about the Holocaust.

• One of the UK’s best loved broadcasters, X Factor and BBC Radio 2 presenter Dermot O’Leary tells audiences about Toto the Ninja Cat and the Superstar Catastrophe, the third book in Dermot’s series for animal-loving kids. Audiences will hear all about the real-life Toto, and have the chance to learn how to draw her with illustrator Nick East.

• Author, broadcaster and former favourite Blue Peter presenter Konnie Huq introduces you to Cookie: her sparkling new series for ages 7+.

With live draw-alongs, brain-busting quizzes and games, this non-stop comedy fun animates Huq’s

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first foray into children’s books, inspired by her own childhood, her love of science and her unashamed nerdiness.

• Children’s author and illustrator of The Pirate Tree Jennie Poh invites children to become pirates for the day with the creation of their very own pirate masks whilst exploring two of the book’s characters Sam and Agu as they set sail the stormy seas to find diamonds, gold – and friendship.

Theatre, performance and comedy include: • A live show hosted by Sam and Mark, as seen on CBBC’s Big Friday Wind-Up, Junior Bake Off, Copycats and the upcoming Crackerjack. The BAFTA winning presenters bring an hour of entertainment for audiences including sketches, jokes, games and gags all suitable for the whole family.

• For budding paleontologists aged five and up, Erth bring their menagerie of incredible life-like prehistoric puppets all the way from Australia to London in Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo! From giant insects and carnivorous theropods to the most complete meat-eating skeleton ever found in Australia, children can meet some of the largest carnivores and herbivores that have ever walked the planet and their cute babies.

• Critically acclaimed cabaret star Le Gateau Chocolat reimagines Hans Christian Andersen’s The Ugly Duckling, a classic tale of identity and

“For budding paleontologists aged five and up, Erth bring their menagerie of incredible life-like prehistoric puppets all the way from Australia to London in Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo”

Free events: belonging, with family-friendly glamour and glitz.

With a message of tolerance and self-acceptance at its core, watch Duckie triumph when he discovers that his differences are his strengths.

• Oxford University Press and Wizard presents a playful performance celebrating the 75th birthday of ‘the strongest girl in the world’ Pippi Longstocking. With carrot-coloured hair and a freckly face, she lives with a monkey and a horse (which she can lift above her head) in a little Swedish village. This one-woman storytelling performance, with plenty of audience participation, invites audiences to meet this brave, clever and kind-hearted nine-year-old girl.

• SLIME is a hilarious, surreal show from theatre company The Herd for ages 2 - 5 and their families. A story of working together, first impressions and the importance of friendship, audiences are invited to enter Slug and Caterpillar’s world and sit in a giant garden for a show told with a handful of words and lots and lots of slime.

• Southbank Centre’s ever popular Imagine Trail encourages children to follow clues and a trail full of stories on a special map around the site.

• Top draw, an ink-filled day celebrating illustration and storytelling and Giant Chalkboard, a drawing installation that children are welcome to contribute to throughout the festival dates.

• All Hands on Decks, a pirate-themed party inspired by Pippi Longstocking to mark the 75th anniversary since publication and her father‘s journey to the ocean. As well as creating piratethemed craft, children will be encouraged to boogie to the musical backdrop of Just Vibez.

To purchase tickets, visit www.southbankcentre.co.uk/imagine or by calling 0203 879 9555. Join the conversation: #SCImagineFest @southbankcentre

“Southbank Centre’s ever popular Imagine Trail encourages children to follow clues and a trail full of stories on a special map around the site”

Classical and contemporary music include: • A performance of crowd-pleasing songs for children with award-winning musician and CBeebies star YolanDa Brown. This live version of favourite CBeeBies show YolanDa’s Band Jam! is jam-packed with live music, and a whole host of musical guests invited to jam along with Brown’s band.

• As the world celebrates his 250th birthday, the London Philharmonic Orchestra introduces families to some of Ludwig Van Beethoven’s most famous orchestral pieces and discovers the real man behind the music. Why was he so grumpy?

Why did he rarely have a bath? How did he overcome being deaf ? And most importantly, why should you never serve him stew?

An engaging show from the Groove Baby Organ Trio mixing storytelling, interactive musicmaking and a solid groove for adults and children alike, bringing to life the 1960s Blue Note era.

Groove Into the Woods follows a collection of kooky characters on a magical adventure into a fairy tale forest as they learn some important lessons about who to trust, enemies and friends.

FEB/MAR 2020 39

YUMMY MUMMY

Incorporating Minimalism In The Home words: Grace Tindall, founder, Scandibørn

U

ncluttered and streamlined homes have hugely increased in popularity following the Netflix documentary ‘Tidying Up’ by Marie Kondo.

At Scandibørn, we are huge fans of that minimalist, pared-back aesthetic but while we can only dream of having a fully decluttered home by following the ‘KonMari’ method, we thought some simple steps on incorporating minimalism in the home were important to share.

We love the whole ethos that surrounds Scandinavian living and interiors. It places value on buying products that will last years and fulfil different needs as our lives change. We’d spent a long time getting our home just perfect and having children seemed to open the door into a whole range of eye sores that I didn’t want lying round our living room. Don’t get me wrong, our son Harry still has a whole hoard of plastic toys, they are just stowed away in stylish storage bags! We felt there was a gap in the market for people like us who wanted to be able to create beautiful, playful and stylish spaces that fitted with their contemporary homes.

Decluttering and clearing your space has huge health benefits. Not only do you feel calm and at peace when you have a streamlined home, the notion of Tidy Home, Tidy Mind comes to the fore.

‘Spark Joy’ is not a new concept. Live by the William Morris quote from the 1800s which is still as relevant today “Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.”

Take small steps and be realistic with simple changes that can affect the way you live forever.

Simplicity - simplicity in the home really is key.

Keep rooms uncluttered and allow the space to breathe. The first rule of Scandinavian design is to keep the base neutral and add colour through accessories for that minimalist space that emulates a calm, peaceful environment. Most people respond

40 FEB/MAR 2020

well to light and airy minimalist spaces.

Storage - Make sure everything has its place.

Live by the mantra ‘don’t put it down, put it away’ which means spaces don’t become crowded and cluttered. Children have a tendency to collect knick knacks at an alarming rate. Find a place for everything and do regular clear outs of their toys and games when they are not around. Invest in stylish storage solutions from baskets to lockers, shelving and pretty boxes to keep clutter hidden from sight, making tidying up a breeze.

Imagine the destination - Before you start buying anything for the home including the nursery, imagine where the item will go. Think about how you want it to feel and where that said item will live.

Do you want the space to feel uncluttered or cosy? This gives you a great starting point for designing any kind of space.

Items that spark joy - At Scandibørn, we are in absolute agreement with the Marie Kondo sentiment that items in your home should ‘Spark Joy’ and give you that warm feeling when you pick it up. This should continue into all areas of the home including the children’s bedrooms/playrooms. Keep hold of these all of the items that ‘spark joy’ and donate or gift the rest.

Investment pieces - Invest in a few high quality items around the home rather than filling the space up with multiple objects. This could be anything from multifunctional cabinets like the Cam Cam Copenhagen changing table which converts to a dresser to shelving systems. We love the Rafa Kids XL Shelf for that minimalist Scandinavian design or the iconic String shelves, all available at Scandibørn.

Decluttering is hard and comes easier to some more than others. Take some simple steps and make small changes that will change the way you live forever.

READER OFFER: SAVE

10%

THE DETAILS We are offering all Yummy Mummy readers an exclusive 10% discount*at Scandibørn. Enter ‘BABYSHOW’ for 10% off. www.scandiborn.co.uk

YUMMY MUMMY

SPACE FOR ALL THE FAMILY N

eed space for seven but want the very best? Ryan Hirons rounds up the options.

If you’re wanting to move lots of people in comfort and luxury, then a seven-seater is really the only way to go.

Certainly, for out-and-out people-moving, you’ve

got to go for a seven-seater, as they provide the best practicality as well as the spaciousness passengers will want.

Now, there are plenty of seven-seater options on the market, ranging from the entry-level to the downright luxurious. Here’s a look at some of the best on sale today...

1

Volvo XC90 The premium SUV segment has been booming and shows no signs of relenting. Volvo’s XC90 has long been one of the very best, with its sleek exterior styling and unique minimalist interior, it’s easy to see why buyers have flocked to the Swedish brand.

It’s pretty pricey, but for the extra cash you get fantastic quality and style, as well as class-leading safety technology and a decent boot - even in seven-seat mode.

Skoda Kodiaq

2

If value for money is at the forefront of your mind when buying a new car, the Skoda Kodiaq should be top of your shopping list when it comes to seven-seaters. As a member of the VW Group, you get excellent build quality despite the relatively inexpensive cost and a smart-looking exterior.

Inside, there’s plenty of space with bags of onboard technology, too, so there’s no need to scrimp on important features to save a few quid.

42 FEB/MAR 2020

Audi Q7

3

Audi’s Q7 is now into its second generation and is now more refined and premium than ever before. It remains an imposing car to look at, with a huge grille upfront, but it’s a far more elegantly styled car than the one it replaces.

Inside, there are high-tech features aplenty, with large twin-touchscreens controlling most functions, heated front seats, and wireless charging, while on the outside there’s adaptive air suspension for a comfy ride and Matrix LED headlights for great visibility at night.

4

Seat Tarraco Seat’s Tarraco arrived last year, bringing a sprinkle of Spanish flair to the sevenseater SUV segment. It’s based on the same platform as the Skoda Kodiaq but gets slightly sharper looks and a different interior too.

It’s also available with an efficient range of engines and represents excellent value-for-money, with a healthy dose of practicality too.

5

Land Rover Discovery Land Rover’s go-anywhere Discovery, as well as being capable of traversing all manner of terrain, is also an excellent seven-seater option.

There’s loads of space, and though the boot is quite small when all the seats are in place, there’s enough room to swallow a few bags.

It lies on the more expensive end of things, we’ll admit, but it’s impressively well kitted out as a result.

Mercedes-Benz GLS The newly-introduced Mercedes-Benz GLS certainly sits at the premium end of the seven-seater segment. It’s packed with features and technology, and it looks good too - even if it’s still one of the largest cars on the road.

There’s a lot of space inside and all three rows are treated to a generous amount of legroom too.

6 7

Lexus RX L The Lexus RX L takes a standard RX, adds some length outback and fits a couple of extra seats where the boot used to be. It features Lexus’ quirky exterior styling and infuriating infotainment system inside, while the driver will be well aware of its heft on a twisty road.

But where it makes up for those negatives is the fact it’s very relaxing to drive, and features a quiet and fuel-sipping hybrid powertrain.

8

9

Seat Alhambra In fairness, some of the cars in this list push the idea of being a true seven-seater a bit, because you might find that only children can fit in the very back. However, the Seat Alhambra is one of those where even adults should be able to get comfortable.

It might be a little dull to look at and lack some of the tech of its rivals, but as an overall package it has all bases covered.

Tesla Model X Few brands enjoy the badge appeal Tesla has achieved in its short existence. The Model X is the American electric car maker’s SUV/MPV offering, featuring all the cutting edge tech you expect from Tesla, as well as those showstopping ‘falcon’ doors.

If you can face the steep starting price you’ll enjoy emission and guilt-free motoring with incredibly low running costs.

FEB/MAR 2020 43

YUMMY MUMMY

Easter treats for little bunnies

PLAYFUL PRESENTS

TREAT BAGS Our popular Easter Bunny Treat Bags are the best way to keep your Easter goodies safe! And they can be used year after year. Made from eco-friendly jute and printed from our studio in Wales, these are a great sustainable product. Choose from a standing rabbit or sitting rabbit, two different typeface and a choice of a grey fluffy tail or a white fluffy tail. Can be personalised with any name (up to 16 characters) Measurements approx. 30cm x 25cm. www.tillyanna.co.uk

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From the retro and nostalgic to the ‘hot right now’, Rex London is a treasure trove of gifts and homewares. Treat your kids this Easter with playful, pocketfriendly presents and egg hunt supplies, from Bonnie the Bunny tissue paper and bunny ear bags for egg collecting to pastel storage cases and the sweetest and petitest night lights for their bedrooms. www.rexlondon.com

NEW FROM STEIFF Meet Steiff ’s latest Soft Cuddly Friends, the newest kids in town from the world’s most famous soft toy manufacturer. Founded in 1880, Steiff brings 140 years of heritage and experience to the Soft Cuddly Friends range of teddy bears and animals, sitting alongside the brand’s iconic ultra realistic animal plushes. The only toy brand with its own fabric mill, Soft Cuddly Friends are crafted from Steiff ’s very own ultra-soft machine-washable woven fur and are instantly recognised by their sweet expressions, quality materials, immaculate workmanship, and the iconic ‘Knopf im Ohr’ or ‘Button in Ear’. www.steiff.com

INSPIRED BY HAPPINESS T aking inspiration from the Japanese concept of Ikigai meaning ‘a reason for being,’ the clever design folk at Frugi have translated Ikigai into their Spring collection to explore the magical places and creatures found amongst Japan’s islands. You’ll find skateboarding cats, unicorns, sunflowers, windsurfing, Koi Carp, Silka Deer, Mount Fuji, cherry blossom and our very own Frugi monster.

At Frugi we have a story to tell and a mission to accomplish - to show that superb design, excellent ethics and passionate people can help change the world. Every year we donate 1% of turnover to

charity through our Little Clothes BIG Change project. Plus, we only use organic cotton grown by farmers we trust, and all our outerwear is made from recycled plastic bottles. Frugi is certified by the Soil Association and the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), which means our organic cotton is the gold standard. As a result, all Frugi clothing is super soft and perfect for little one’s delicate skin. Choosing organic helps protect the planet and everyone living on it. It also emits 46% less greenhouse gases than conventional cotton.

Find out more about Frugi and organic cotton at www.welovefrugi.com

“Superb design, excellent ethics and passionate people can help change the world”

Luxury 100% organic cotton pyjamas Award winning

Super soft & breathable for all year round wear 5* reviews Sleep expert approved Free standard UK delivery

Code: YMDELIVERY

YUMMY MUMMY

Chris Packham:

Getting Children Interested In Nature

Research shows kids often lack knowledge about the natural world, naturalist Chris Packham gives advice on how to get them to love nature. words: Lisa Salmon

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aturalist Chris Packham wants the nation’s children to learn to love wildlife, but he’s got a lot of work to do research suggests today’s kids are better at identifying Pokemon characters than British wildlife, one in six haven’t seen a single bug in the past six months, and 10% don’t know honey comes from bees. As research has found being closer to makes you 67% happier, Packham has these toptips to get children to appreciate nature:

Get them into insects “They’re a group of animals which is in serious trouble in the UK - we’re losing so many of our invertebrates and they’re key to the food chain, so their decline is leading to other declines. “It’s due to loss of habitat and intensive use of pesticides, and it’s no wonder we’ve lost so many of our birds as well - there’s nothing out there for them to eat.

That’s a tragedy,” says Packham. “Although some invertebrates have become endangered, they’re still commoner and easier to see in urban and suburban environments - we should be able to go into our gardens and parks and see some of these animals, like bees and black ants. They’re extraordinary - kids should look out for them.”

Insects aren’t ‘pests’ “Unfortunately, many insects are considered ‘pests’ - not a word I like to use myself. But from my point of view, it’s just a challenge to re-educate people.

Hornets, for example, feed on lots of other insects, so if you’ve got a garden or an allotment, the more 46 FEB/MAR 2020

wasps or hornets you’ve got, the more veg you’re going to produce because they eat all the caterpillars that feed on the veg. There’s an armoury of pesticides designed to kill garden ‘pests’, and it’s this intolerance to other life which we need to confront.

I’m always dismayed by the number of ant poisons - what problem do ants possibly cause? We need all these animals to make our ecosystems function there’s a balance of nature there if you leave it alone and don’t poison it. You need tolerance, re-educate yourself, and think of the real value of creatures like ants to the environment. Leave them be.”

Get up close to nature “First-hand experience is important - young people need to engage with wildlife, meet it, smell it, touch it, get slimed, stung, and bitten. It’s those sorts of things which fuel a curiosity and develop an affinity.

Young people see wildlife on TV, but we need to get them in the parks and nature reserves picking animals up and meeting them. There’s nothing more magical than a ladybird climbing to the tip of your finger and flying away. That’s the one thing that probably inspired me - when I was very young I used to collect ladybirds in matchboxes.”

Get kids outside “Get them out into green spaces - it doesn’t have to be ‘the countryside’, there are lots of green spaces in our cities. We function better both physically and mentally in green spaces, and it’s good for exercise.”

Gen up “Find out about animals, and how you can help them in your green space - what to feed hedgehogs and foxes etc. Feed them at a safe distance so they don’t associate humans with food. I feed my foxes over the fence so they don’t think of my house being a source of food. They just come out and it’s magically there and I get to see them, which is a bonus. I want them

to keep their natural caution when it comes to human beings. Gen up, read stuff, and make sure you’ve got some information for the kids.”

Feed and water wildlife “Fundamental resources - water, food and shelter - are what we can offer wildlife if we’re lucky enough to have gardens. Children can put water out for animals, and certainly for birds who need it to bathe in too.

Feeding the birds brings them closer to you. You can put a bird feeder close to the window, and get super close-up views of birds - my bird feeder is about 2m from my kitchen window. It’s a perfect way to engage with birds for kids, and there’s also the feelgood factor that you’ve helped another species survive.”

Look for garden wildlife “Tended gardens are normally full of flowers and therefore nectar, which is fuel for insects, and if you’ve got insects, you’ve got birds which come to eat them. Urban and suburban gardens can be a very important resource for wildlife, and it may do better there than it would in the countryside common frog and common toad are declining in the countryside and holding their own in suburbia.

Birds like songthrushes do better in towns now than they do in the countryside too.”

YUMMY MUMMY

MUSIC MAKERS As the BBC launches its Bring the Noise campaign, saxophonist YolanDa Brown highlights the endless benefits of music-making. WORDS: Lisa Salmon.

C

hildren benefit hugely from learning to make music - not only from the joy music can bring to them and others, but also from the way music-making can boost wellbeing, academic attainment and personal development.

On a happy note, research by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra has shown the majority of children - nine out of 10 - would like to learn a musical instrument, with band instruments like the guitar (45%), piano (36%) and drums/percussion (35%) being most popular. Yet further research by Ofsted last year found more than two-thirds of parents don’t think music is covered sufficiently in their child’s education.

In a bid to highlight these points, BBC Teach is running Bring the Noise (bbc.co.uk/bringthenoise) - an educational campaign aimed at helping primary school teachers and parents inspire children to become musicians and see the joys of musicmaking.

Musicians and artists - including singer Zara Larsson, music legend Nile Rodgers, saxophonist YolanDa Brown, and world-renowned percussionist Dame Evelyn Glennie - are supporting the campaign. Alice Webb, director of BBC Children’s and Education services, says: “With the help of some of the biggest names in music, our partners,

“With the help of some of the biggest names in music, our partners, school teachers and parents, we’ll get young feet tapping across the country and build a love of music from early year”

48 FEB/MAR 2020

school teachers and parents, we’ll get young feet tapping across the country and build a love of music from early years.”

The campaign is aimed at children between the ages of four and seven and offers free educational resources on the Bring the Noise website. These include a suite of catchy child-friendly songs, lesson plans and films for teachers, and a new digital interactive tool - Bring the Noise: Play It! - that’s easy to use in the classroom and at home.

In addition, YolanDa Brown has just launched a new series called Found Sounds with YolanDa Brown on the Bring the Noise website. Aimed at Key Stage 1 children, the five-part series demonstrates that you don’t need fancy instruments to make music, as Brown visits familiar locations to discover the sounds made by everyday objects in the environment, which can inspire her team of Mighty Music Makers to create an instrument.

“Music education, and access to good music education is paramount,” she says. “Music inspires, teaches teamwork, is an outlet for expression and a whole lot more. Every child should have access to music-making opportunities to create and absorb music.”

Here, Brown explains why music education is so good for children...

1. It helps them learn Music can be used to teach so much, from maths to science and even physical education with dance and movement. It’s important to be creative when teaching music and to understand that it’s also benefiting other areas of learning and development.

2. It encourages teamwork Playing instruments together, whether in a band or an orchestra or singing in a choir, is one of the most powerful experiences you can have.

The idea of working together and realising that your part - no matter how small or large, loud or subtle is important to make the song work, is so fulfilling.

3. It allows children to dream Children are the heartbeat of every generation and it’s important that we nurture them and teach them to dream. Music provides escapism and allows the listener to dream. Children need to know everything is possible in life and be given the opportunity to dream, before society adds boxes and ceilings.

Especially at a young age, they’re free to enjoy music with all its purity and sincerity, before they start to understand chart positions and social network numbers, as that becomes a gauge sometimes to the authenticity of the music.

“Music education, and access to good music education is paramount”

teaches you to be dedicated to practice and personal development.

5. It boosts confidence There is such pride and a sense of achievement that comes from learning music to perform in from of family and peers. The feeling is just mind-blowing.

6. It increases coordination In a similar way to sports, playing an instrument helps children develop their motor skills, with improved hand-eye coordination.

7. It improves listening Making music requires children to listen to sounds and process them. They have to respond to tempo, pitch, other players and more. This skill of listening will help in all walks of life.

8. It teaches patience To learn an instrument, you have to be very patient and endure a lot of false starts and overcome the regular, ‘I can’t do it’, that might crop up a few times. The learning process is a lifetime journey, as you’re constantly developing and growing on your instrument.

Children learn a lot of patience in the early stages of their introduction to music and the feeling of overcoming a musical stumbling block or nerves at a performance are priceless.

4. It creates discipline Learning music, especially if you play an instrument, creates discipline. You learn to look after your instrument, cleaning it after use. It also FEB/MAR 2020 49

YUMMY MUMMY

Learn to Play Day 2020 FREE music lessons for all initiative coming to London. Saturday 28 & Sunday 29 March

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earn to Play Day - a free national event to encourage everyone in the UK to start making music - is coming to London this March.

Supported by Jools Holland OBE, and run by charity Music for All, the 2020 Learn to Play Day will see music shops, teachers, venues and schools throughout the country partner with leading musical instrument brands to offer thousands of FREE music lessons.

Famed musician Jools Holland said: “As Patron of the Music for All charity, I’m delighted to lend my support to National Learn to Play Day on

March 28th and 29th. It’s a pleasure to be able to share the joy of music, and this special day allows thousands to get involved as venues all over the country offer music lessons for free.”

Since being launched nine years ago, the Learn to Play Day initiative has helped thousands of people pick up and play a musical instrument. Many had never played before, while others played as a child but gave up. Held in partnership with the Musicians’ Union, the ‘Take It Away’ scheme and Making Music, the Learn to Play Day initiative has been growing in popularity with a record 10,000 free lessons held during last year’s event.

So far, participating venues include: • Yamaha Music London in Soho • PMT London on Old Street, EC1V • World Heart Beat Music Academy in Southfields • Musicroom London on Denmark Street Further venues are set to be announced over the coming weeks.

Fellow artist Jamie Cullum added: “National Learn to Play Day gives everyone a chance to play an instrument, even 50 FEB/MAR 2020

if they’ve never played before. This wonderful day introduces thousands to the magic of music making, and often reunites people with a lost passion for playing. Get involved and perhaps discover a skill you thought you didn’t have!”

Paul McManus, CEO at Music for All, concluded: “While we all may have different tastes and preferred genres, there is no doubt that music is something that is universally loved around the world. Our Learn to Play Day events are all about spreading the joy of playing a musical instrument and inspiring those of all ages to take up something that will not only have health benefits for the future, but that also brings so many people together.”

To find a FREE music lesson near you, simply visit www.musicforall.org.uk/learntoplayday

YUMMY MUMMY

NURSERIES THAT HAVE AN A* APPROACH

Roosha Sue, Head

of Eaton House The Manor Nursery and Head of Early Years for Eaton House Group of Schools on what to look for in choosing a genuinely nurturing nursery

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urseries come in all shapes and sizes and finding an independent nursery that suits your child’s needs can actually be an enjoyable process.

We have two bright and wonderful nurseries at Eaton House Belgravia in Eaton Gate, and at Eaton House The Manor on Clapham Common with a new additional Nursery Class in Eaton House Belgravia opening in September 2020, due to high demand.

Entering a Nursery which is part of an academic Pre-Prep (and later Prep) sister school can make your life easier.

Eaton House Schools avoids selecting children at age 3-5 in the Nursery or Pre-Prep as we truly believe that certain forms of higher intelligence do not develop until a lot later. What we provide is detailed context for each child as they rise naturally into the Pre-Prep, allowing for a seamless transition, and at the right pace for each child.

We work hard to ensure our nurseries are wonderful, stimulating and magical spaces with a timetable of gentle play and ‘lessons’ that allow our nursery children to confidently zoom past their milestones.

Beware of nurseries that promise that all children will read when they leave. Our Pre-Prep and Prep

52 FEB/MAR 2020

results prove that nurture not pushing is the right approach for long term success.

We have two nurseries in Belgravia and Clapham and both are local ‘hubs.’ High-ceilinged nurseries in mansion houses like Eaton House Belgravia’s Georgian rooms can be lovely, with plenty of space for different learning environments. The children also have access to garden squares and parks for games and free play time – they are very busy and active little bees!

When choosing a nursery, ask the teacher to pupil ratio, and whether the play is structured by subject and also seasonal. How many ‘extra’ activities are on the agenda – like mini yoga, dress up corner, gym, languages, art and craft and cooking? Your children are not there simply to attend day care but to learn and grow!

Find a nursery that allows parents to meet with teachers daily. The ideal school aims to make a difference each day, putting the wellbeing of your little ones front and centre of all that they do, aiming to give each child a fun, exciting and worthwhile learning experience.

Keep an eye out for schools where there are three intakes a year in September, January and April, so that summer babies are not disadvantaged.

Happiness should always be the top priority.

THE DETAILS If you would like to ask about the new additional Belgravia Nursery class for September 2020, please contact Sam Feilding, Head of Admissions, Eaton House Schools, on 0203 917 5050 or email sfeilding@eatonhouseschools.com

Image: Eaton House Belgravia Nursery boy at play

Don’t miss the opportunity to arrange a visit

Contact Nicky Carter or Viki Cryer via admissions@dulwichpreplondon.org if you have any questions

PREGNANCY,

BIRTH & BABIES

– Keeping you and baby happy and healthy throughout pregnancy and birth – i mage : B A M B O N ATU R E

YUMMY YUMMY MUMMY MUMMY

Make your Own Bespoke Baby Gift Box C The freedom is in your hands

56 FEB/MAR 2020

hoosing a great baby gift doesn’t need to be difficult. Candytuft Baby bring you the option to make your own bespoke gift box for new parents and their precious new-born babies.

The expectant birth of a new baby is an event to anticipate and celebrate, and what better way than to create a bespoke, luxury gift box to welcome the new bundle of joy?

Within the gift box you can choose whatever gifts you would like to include, making the whole process truly bespoke and personal to the mother and baby.

We can offer advice on what to include if you’re not too sure, but overall the freedom is in your hands.

Our products are premium quality, and completely baby-safe. We leave no stone unturned in sourcing the best possible products to include in our gift boxes, with safety at the forefront of our minds. Everything we stock has to be two things – practical, and downright beautiful! We then wrap the gifts in a white keepsake box, surrounded by luxurious packaging, to give that truly mouthdropping effect when received by new parents.

Candytuft Baby is all about baby gift boxes. We are a family business, based in the Oxfordshire countryside, dedicated to creating a bespoke gift service for the happiest of occasions.

We created Candytuft Baby because we wanted to offer gifts to new mums and babies, in a creative, bespoke way. No more generic gifts, it’s time to offer something personalised, something special, and something which is practical yet luxurious at the same time. www.candytuftbaby.co.uk

Best for babies and mums L

ittle Butterfly London is an awardwinning luxury Ecocert organic-certified skincare brand for mothers and babies created by Gudrun Wurm who created the range to nurture her newborn son’s delicate skin.

Gudrun had been passionate about skincare ever since she was young and went on to embrace the study of organic cosmetics after her son was born, immersing herself in the world of gentle plant actives and learning about ingredients that can nourish, soothe and protect all at once.

Created in London from carefully sourced ingredients throughout the UK, Little Butterfly London ensures that only the purest, safest and

most effective ingredients are used across the range.

Whilst she was pregnant, Gudrun believed that whilst women’s bodies were working on creating magic, they also deserved to be cherished. She was passionate about creating products that could be mood-lifting and pleasurable and safe to use during pregnancy and breast-feeding, whilst being highly effective to deliver results.

One of our favourite gift sets in their range – which also makes the perfect Mother’s Day gift – is their ‘Pamper’ Gift box (£89) which includes 150ml of their Cocoon of Bliss stretch mark butter, 150ml of their Scent of Seas toning body serum, 100ml of their Fresh Meadows cooling leg gel and a luxurious 100% cotton washcloth. www.littlebutterflylondon.com

“Little Butterfly London ensures that only the purest, safest and most effective ingredients are used across the range”

FEB/MAR 2020 57

YUMMY MUMMY

Stop smoking in

pregnancy

later in life. Children whose parents smoke are more likely to suffer from asthma and other more serious illnesses that may need hospital treatment.

The sooner you stop smoking, the better.

Passive smoke harms your baby

P

rotecting your baby from tobacco smoke is one of the most important things you can do to give your child a healthy start in life.

Every cigarette you smoke contains over 4,000 chemicals, so smoking when you are pregnant harms your unborn baby. Cigarettes can restrict the essential oxygen supply to your baby, so their heart has to beat harder every time you smoke.

Benefits of stopping smoking in pregnancy Stopping smoking will benefit both you and your baby immediately. Harmful gases like carbon monoxide and other damaging chemicals will clear from your body.

When you stop smoking: • You will have fewer complications in pregnancy • You are more likely to have a healthier pregnancy and a healthier baby • You will reduce the risk of stillbirth • Your baby is less likely to be born too early and have to face the additional breathing, feeding and health problems that often go with being premature • Your baby is less likely to be born underweight: babies of women who smoke are, on average, about 8oz lighter, which can cause problems during and after labour, • You will reduce the risk of cot death, also called sudden infant death Stopping smoking will also benefit your baby 58 FEB/MAR 2020

If your partner or anyone else who lives with you smokes, it can affect you and the baby both before and after birth. You may also find it more difficult to stop if someone around you smokes.

Second-hand smoke can also reduce birthweight and increase the risk of cot death. Babies whose parents smoke are more likely to be admitted to hospital for bronchitis and pneumonia during the first year of life. More than 17,000 children under the age of five are admitted to hospital every year because of the effects of second-hand smoke.

Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) You can use NRT during pregnancy if it will help you stop smoking, and you’re unable to without it. NRT contains only nicotine and none of the damaging chemicals found in cigarettes, so it is a much better option than continuing to smoke.

NRT patches should be used for no more than 16 hours in any 24 hour period. If you have pregnancyrelated nausea and vomiting, you should not use patches.

Pregnant women are advised to avoid liquorice flavoured nicotine products. Although there is no known risk with small amounts of liquorice flavouring, the manufacturers advise caution, based on information on the adverse effects associated with excessive amounts of liquorice root. As other flavours are available, pregnant women are advised to select an alternative, such as fruit or mint.

For more information, call the NHS pregnancy stop smoking advice line on 0300 123 1044

“NRT contains only nicotine and none of the damaging chemicals found in cigarettes, so it is a much better option than continuing to smoke”

YUMMY MUMMY

‘Why do babygrows have all these poppers?’

M y lovely hubby would ask me this all the time when we had our first baby boy.

This got me thinking about the many times I was struggling to match poppers in the dark whilst trying to dress our newborn. I now have two very wriggly little boys who won’t keep still for a second, it’s like wrestling a lion getting them dressed after bath time. So with two busy little guys to deal with I need ZIPPYUP’s more than ever to make nappy and outfit changes quicker and easier.

Just over a year ago I got to work on making ZIPPYUP a brand for all those parents like us, slightly tired, run ragged and doing the best we can...we’ll take any help that is offered...if it makes our life easier.

Before I promoted myself to the position of Mummy, I learnt my trade working for a company that designed and made many of the clothes you’re probably wearing right now. So I have taken those many years of experience and knowledge and put them to good use by designing and making a babygrow that works well for both the wearer and the dresser.

ZIPPYUP babygrows aren’t just well designed, they’re amazing value and made from good quality soft fabric, that’s because I personally source and work with the factories that are making ZIPPYUP designs to get the best possible prices and materials.

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The classic ZIPPYUP original babygrow is made from 100% super soft cotton fabric. The zips are concealed so they do not have contact with your baby’s skin and the tab at the neck ensures the zip puller doesn’t catch on any little chins.

The long sleeves have turn back cuffs so you don’t need separate (often lost or odd) mittens and they are long enough for your baby to have lots of hand room.

Colour combinations include unisex colours such as aqua with pale grey and traditional white with pale grey. For baby girls we have designed a pink and white stripe. New colour combinations of the classic one-piece ZIPPYUP babygrow are in the pipeline as well as new designs, I’ve taken inspiration from baseball style tees by pairing up interesting colours which look extra cute as babygrows, I look forward to sharing these with you very soon. www.zippyup.com

“ZIPPYUP babygrows aren’t just well designed, they’re amazing value and made from good quality soft fabric”

BABY CLOTHES WITH ZIPS

www.zippyup.com

@zippy.up

YUMMY MUMMY

Back to Nature “Today, our family of baby care products include not only disposable nappies, pants, and wipes, but a skincare line that is safe for your baby and the rest of your family as well”

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ambo Nature part of Abena- a familyowned company with deep, Danish roots.

Being owned by the same family for three generations makes family-values a fundamental part of our foundation. We understand families within and across nations, as we share a core vision; to make family life a little better and a little easier.

For a child, each day is an adventure of playing and exploring the world. These adventures are important to a child’s well-being and personal development, and a nappy should support this journey through childhood. With more than 30 years of experience in making Nappies for children across the globe, we know that no two children are the same. Despite the differences, we believe our new, improved and expanded Bambo Nature product range provides perfect solutions across the board.

Our Danish roots give us a strong sense of quality. Manufactured In Denmark, we believe in providing high quality and environmentally friendly products made from premium materials instead of glittery products with less consideration for the skin, comfort and the environment. Most importantly, our products have proven to be as strong and effective as they are safe and sustainable.

When it comes to the quality of our nappies we never compromise, every nappy we produce is designed to provide you and your child with the highest safety and comfort while being as environmentally friendly as possible. Our Bambo Nature nappy range has been awarded the EUEcolabel and Nordic Swan accreditation; when you choose a product labelled with these accreditations, you help reduce environmental impact - and whatever product you choose, you can be sure that they are among the best in their category.

Bambo Nature nappies are also marked with the Asthma-Allergy label from Astma-Allergi Danmark, which guarantees them to be less likely to cause any kind of irritation to the skin. A great fit and softness ensure sensitivity to the skin, which will support children in life instead of limiting them. Bambo Nature nappies are free of perfume, colourants and unsafe chemicals; even people with sensitive skin can use our products.

Today, our family of baby care products include not only disposable nappies, pants, and wipes, but a skincare line that is safe for your baby and the rest of your family as well. The Bambo Nature skincare range consists of certified safe and eco-friendly products, undergoing the strictest certification processed possible including ECOCERT Cosmos – only products with a minimum of 95% naturally sourced ingredients are eligible for this certification.

Bambo Nature has now expanded the skincare range, introducing a NEW 100% biodegradable wipe!

At Abena, we want parents to feel at ease knowing Bambo Nature is the right choice for both them, their child and the environment. Because, when parents are safe and confident in their decisions, they give their children the freedom to move and explore the world. www.bambonature.co.uk

YUMMY MUMMY

Introducing The Innovation

Slumbersac

Sleeping Bag With Feet

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s children grow and start to take their first steps, they need all the help they can get. Slumbersac sleeping bags with feet are great for helping your child as they learn to walk and explore their world for the first time! Toddlers can enjoy the comfort and security of their sleeping bag while still being able to move about freely.

Slumbersac’s sleeping bags with feet are just like their normal sleep bags but with openings for feet so children can walk around while staying in their bag! The innovative sleeping bags are designed so that your child’s feet fit inside the sleeping bag when sleeping and when they wake up they can pop their feet through the openings and walk or crawl around in it!

You can also get your little one into their bag and ready for bed nice and early but they will still have the freedom to play until you’re ready to put them down! Likewise in the morning, they can run around happily in their bag until it’s time to get ready.

Made to the same high standards as all Slumbersac’s other sleeping bags, they are made from soft 100% jersey cotton, lined with 100% cotton and are padded with soft quick-dry polyester fleece. They also offer a selection of designs in muslin, which are perfect for the hot Summer months.

The sleeping bags with feet come in a variety of prints and the option of name embroidery enables you to personalize the sleeping bag with your little one’s name..

Slumbersac sleeping bags are of exceptional quality and are exclusively designed by their in-house UK design team. With a winning combination of quality, value, safety and comfort, Slumbersac is your number one choice for sleeping bags for babies and children!

Slumbersac sleeping bags with feet are priced from £18.99. You can view the full range at www.slumbersac.co.uk 64 FEB/MAR 2020

YUMMY MUMMY

Clever daytime hacks to help your child get a good night’s sleep C

A child sleep expert outlines simple things to do during the day to help children settle better at night. WORDS: LISA SALMON

hildren sleeping well is one of the holy grails of parenting, and many mums and dads swear by the bedtime routine of bath, book, bed to help little ones have a good night’s sleep.

But it’s not just immediately before bed that steps can be taken to encourage an unbroken night for both children and parents - there are plenty of things that can be done during the day too.

“A positive bedtime structure is about ensuring daytime and night-time routines are a continual process, and not seen as two separate things,” explains psychologist and sleep expert Chireal Shallow, who runs the Baby Sleep Clinic (babysleepclinic.co.uk).

“It’s really important that children are stimulated.

This can take the form of education at school, or post-school activities such as games, hobbies, reading or seeing friends. School is one of the better opportunities for children to develop good sleep hygiene, due to the rigid structure of the day - they know when to expect break times for example, and the routine is structured and secure.

“Their home life routine needs to match up in the same way, so it’s more of a fluid process.”

Here Shallow, in partnership with natural family skincare experts Bloom and Blossom (bloomandblossom.com), shares her tips on what parents can do during the day to help children settle well at night.

1. Hide and seek in the bedroom Playing hide and seek helps to create a familiarity with the bedroom, allowing children to take ownership of the space, and create a feeling of purpose and love. The more time spent in their

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bedroom during the day, the better association they have with it at night time.

2. Eating cottage cheese with raspberries Feeding children snacks such as cottage cheese before bed may sound absurd, but it’s full of the amino acid tryptophan, which can increase serotonin levels. Top the cheese with raspberries to appeal to a child’s sweet tooth, as these are rich sources of melatonin, the sleep hormone.

3. A foot massage an hour before bed A foot massage every night an hour before bedtime can help anxious children feel calm and settled.

4. Fresh air and stimulation It’s important to make sure children are getting enough fresh air and stimulation during the day. For older children, the main barrier to sleep is anxiety and feeling overtired or hyperactive. Fresh air during the day can do them a world of good as being outdoors and surrounded by nature helps with sleep and relaxation. There’s a stark contrast to how we feel indoors in comparison to outdoors, and it’s about ensuring the balance is right and encouraging children to come out of their internal world.

5. Choose activity time wisely Where possible, it’s better to get most of your weekend activity done first thing on a Saturday or Sunday. This doesn’t have to be set in stone hour-by-hour, but it could work to cut your day into segments. This will help you to settle children later on, as otherwise you may struggle to remove them from their friends and the fun.

Boisterous activity and active games are best done in the morning or early afternoon. Activities which relate to quiet time and winding down, such as chatting with family, reading books and doing puzzles require mental engagement rather than physical and are better placed towards the end of the day. These are more conducive for sleep, and are preparing the body for winding down and rest.

possible, so you can then build this into your home life routine. Planning and preparation is key - if a birthday is being celebrated at school, and there are lots of sweets, it’s advisable that you know about this, as ultimately, this could impact how your child sleeps that night.

8. Lie down with children on their bedroom floor Getting a feel for what a child experiences in their room can be vital to understanding their experiences. Ask yourself if it feels like a calm space, or if there are any objects which may look different at night. For example, your child may have a backpack hung up, which may look scary in the dark - invest in a personalised one, which they can take pride in and helps them to feel unafraid.

9. Create a bedtime box Put inside the things that children need to feel safe and help them sleep at night. For example, books, favourite toys and pictures of family.

10. Hang up family photos Place family photos around your child’s bedroom, so if they wake during the night, they’re immediately comforted.

“It’s important to make sure children are getting enough fresh air and stimulation during the day. For older children, the main barrier to sleep is anxiety and feeling overtired or hyperactive”

6. Cater to your child’s needs Cater to your child’s individual needs and make sure what you do during the day suits them and their unique personalities. If they’re afraid of scary films, ensure they spend plenty of time outdoors and not in front of the TV or iPad. If your child is highly stimulated, then it’s a good idea to give them more sedentary activities, and if you have a calmer child give them more stimulation, so they gradually become worn out in the morning and tired in the afternoon/early or evening.

7. Communicate with their teachers Children spend a lot of time at school, and this is the best place for structure and routine. Make sure you’re constantly in contact with their teachers and know what’s going on day to day. Find out what’s happening towards the latter end of the day where FEB/MAR 2020 67

HEALTH –Helping you and your little ones stay healthy – i mage : S W E E T A S T H E Y A R E …

YUMMY MUMMY

The Real Reasons Mums-to-be Wear Maternity Support Belts

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ou’re considering a maternity support belt, and you’re wondering if it’s worth your while. Here are the reasons why mums-to- be reach out for a maternity support belt.

Perhaps you’ve just found out your pregnant, feeling that first flutter, or you’re thirty-something weeks along, and you’re learning to get comfortable with the baby bump.

At any of those stages, you could experience pain and discomfort. It’s natural - your body’s shifting and changing to make room for the little life-ball growing inside you. Many times, you’ll feel better just sitting down, taking a breath, and wait for the pain of discomfort to pass. When that doesn’t cut it, mums-to-be turn to some form of support to help navigate through the trimesters a little easier.

Pain relief is just one way in which maternity support belts help.

To ease back, hip and pelvic joint pain Back, hip and pelvic joint pain can appear at any time during pregnancy.

Daily activities leave you completely drained if and when it strikes.

According to a study, 71% of women report lower back pain, and 65% report some degree of pelvic girdle pain.

Your body releases more of a hormone called Relaxin. Its job is to loosen and relax the connective tissue in your body, including the ligaments in your pelvis, preparing your body towards the birth of your child. However, as a result of loosening up, you could experience a loss of stability, especially in your pelvis.

A good maternity support belt eases lower back, hip and pelvic pain and discomfort. The bbhugme Maternity support belt is soft, dynamic, and flexible so you can remain active, feeling well-supported.

your belly and pelvis with some durable support.

Everyone at bbhugme, backed by their panel of experts, are all for healthy and happy pregnancies.

Dr. Hilde Tavares, bbhugme Founder, and Chiropractor specialising in pre-natal care, recommends hot water activities. “As baby grows, your belly gets heavier and your centre of gravity changes. In example, I balance the curve in your lower back , so, the way you move, bend forwards, backwards changes completely. Postural support can alleviate some of the discomfort.”

Support after baby arrives

Support during exercise If you’re active and don’t want to lose the fitness habit, good on you! It can be smart to provide

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“A good maternity support belt eases lower back, hip and pelvic pain and discomfort”

One common postpartum effect is that your core muscles need time to recuperate after being stretched out during pregnancy. Some experience an even greater extent of abdominal muscle separation, known as diastasis recti.

There are core exercises you can do to coax your belly back into shape, but your body needs to heal after the birth, so shouldn’t be your main focus in the beginning. A maternity support belt can act as your own “personal little helper” through those first few weeks.

All of these reasons basically point to one thing: A maternity support belt is designed to help you be more comfortable as you navigate the changes during and after pregnancy. The bbhugme maternity support belt helps you with the support so that your main focus can be on adjusting to your life as a new mum. www.bbhugme.com

YUMMY MUMMY

Sweet As They Are… How to avoid giving your

baby a sweet tooth Healthy snacks Canned fruit: toddlers love peach, pear and pineapple slices. Make sure it is in its own juice and not syrup.

Fresh fruit: look out for fruit that’s in season, it’s cheaper!

Yoghurt: make sure it’s unsweetened, and then add fruit for a delicious snack or pudding.

Frozen yoghurt: make sure it’s unsweetened.

Frozen fruit: defrost slices of fruit and veg.

Rice pudding Porridge Bread rolls or toasted bread, bagels, potato cakes or rice cakes.

Dry cereal without added sugar.

“Giving your baby a sweet tooth also means that they are more likely to keep pestering and crying for sugary things”

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abies who are given sweet things to eat or drink are more likely to get a taste for sweet foods than babies who are not.

Giving babies food with added sugar can cause these serious problems: • It can rot their tiny teeth, and lead to fillings and even lost teeth (drinks with added sugar are particularly bad for babies’ teeth – it’s like giving a baby a lolly to suck on all day).

• It can put them at a higher risk of becoming overweight or obese, which can lead to type 2 diabetes, heart disease and some cancers in later life.

• Giving your baby a sweet tooth also means that they are more likely to keep pestering and crying for sugary things. This makes it difficult to say ‘no’ to but means that your baby learns that crying and pestering will get them what they want.

It’s much easier to get your baby on the right track now than to try and change what they eat later.

Some sugars are found in obvious places like fizzy drinks or squash, sweets, cakes, biscuits, pastries and chocolate. But some are found in food and drinks that many people think are healthy, so keep an eye on the sugar content of food and drink you give to the kids.

Foods like rusks, dried fruit, baked beans, some baby food, and drinks like sweetened fruit juice, cordial, milk shakes and flavoured water can actually contain lots of sugar. Unsweetened fruit juice is a healthier option when it’s been diluted, but better served with a meal as it’s still high in sugar. Research shows that it’s best to give little ones milk (although not cow’s milk as a drink until 12 months) and water to drink, and things like fruit, toast, and rice cakes instead of sugary snacks.

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YUMMY MUMMY

We talked to Claire Magee, MD of Nannycare, to find out more about their goat milk based Follow on formula for babies.

Does goat milk based Follow on formula have a distinct taste or strong smell?

As specialists in goat milk formula for babies, we understand the nature of goat milk and how to treat it to ensure great tasting milk that babies will enjoy without the strong aroma often associated with goat milk. Gentle handling during production ensures a pleasant and delicate aroma, very similar to regular milk. We also use the whole milk and process it minimally, reducing heat treatment where possible to help ensure it retains its delicate flavour. For additional reassurance, every batch of Follow on milk is sensory tested before release so that babies will love its mild and creamy taste.

Is goat milk based Follow on formula safe and approved?

Following an extensive clinical trial with the Nannycare formulation and submissions to the European Food Safety Authority, we are proud to say that, since March 2014, goat milk formula is recognised under EU and UK legislation as a nutritionally equivalent alternative to cow’s milk-based formula¹. Goat milk Follow on formula can be used in exactly the same way as its cow’s milk equivalent and is just as safe and suitable for your baby.

“Nutritionally both cow’s milk and goat milk-based Follow on formulas are equal, and parents can choose between either milk if they wish to move on from, or complement, breastfeeding”

Can I use goat milk Follow on formula if my baby has a minor feeding issue?

There are many similarities between goat milk and cow’s milk, but also some differences in the protein and fat. In the event of minor feeding issues or baby not settling on cow’s milk formula, it may be worth trying goat milk Follow on formula as an alternative. However, always refer to a healthcare professional before switching. Goat milk formula should not be given to babies with cow’s milk protein allergy unless directed by a healthcare professional.

Careline UK: 0800 328 5826 ROI: 1800 937 375 E: enquiry@nannycare.co.uk www.nannycare.co.uk Important notice: Breastfeeding is best for your baby and should continue for as long as possible. Nannycare Follow on milk is for babies over 6 months, as part of a varied weaning diet. It should not be used as a breastmilk substitute before this age and should be used on the advice of a healthcare professional. ¹Directive 2006/141 (EC) and equivalent UK legislation ²Demmelmair H et al. “Benefits of lactoferrin, osteopontin and MFGM for infants”. Nutrients 2017;9.

Why choose goat milk based Follow on formula?

We chose to use goat milk over cow’s milk as a base for our formula because of its reputation as a soft and gentle milk. Goat milk is also a high quality protein source which provides essential fatty acids, vitamins and minerals. We also use the whole milk including the milk fat because it naturally contains the Milk Fat Globule which is important for digestive health, immune and central nervous system development. Recent studies have shown that when the Milk Fat Globule is added back into other formula milks where the milk fat has been removed, babies given this have better development, digestive systems and fewer infections².

FEB/MAR 2020 75

YUMMY MUMMY

Focus on‌

OBESITY from The London General Practice discusses the risks associated with obesity

Dr Sanjay Mehta,

goals and involving your friends and family with your attempts to lose weight can help.

Diet alone is not always the cause of increased weight, so speaking with your doctor can help you identify whether there is an underlying cause, such as an underactive thyroid. Together, you can establish the risks your current weight is placing on your health and build a realistic, sustainable plan to help with losing weight, if it is deemed to be required.

You may also benefit from receiving psychological support to help change the way you think about food and healthy eating.

If lifestyle changes alone are not effective, involving a specialist to discuss medical and surgical options, particularly in patients with a very high weight to height ratio.

Dr Sanjay Mehta, GP

O

besity remains an increasingly common and complex issue with numerous causes. The modernisation of society has contributed to increased rates of obesity through an environment that encourages higher calorie intake and reduced physical activity.

In the UK, 26 out of every 100 adults are now obese with men being more likely to be obese than women and those aged 66-74 being most likely to be overweight or obese. In addition, childhood obesity is an increasing problem, with approximately 20% of 10-11 year olds being obese.

Risks of obesity Whilst fat is required for healthy functioning of the body, it is vital to take steps in preventing and reducing excess fat that results in obesity due to the associated risk of serious conditions, such as heart disease and several types of cancer, as well as the impact on fertility and reproductive health.

Obesity can also affect your quality of life and lead to psychological problems, such as depression, low self-esteem and stress.

Treating obesity Whilst the most effective ways to prevent and treat obesity is to exercise regularly and to follow a healthy diet, this can be challenging to sustain long term and manage within a busy daily schedule.

Regularly monitoring your weight, setting realistic 76 FEB/MAR 2020

MBBS BSc MRCGP DCH DRCOG AICSM Clinical Audit Lead A medical graduate from Imperial College London, with a further Bachelor of Science in Haematology, Dr Sanjay Mehta has been recognised as a Member of the Royal College of General Practitioners.

His previous NHS posts have been in a variety of medical, psychiatric and surgical specialties at both Oxford and Cambridge University Hospitals. Dr Mehta is Clinical Audit Lead for the London General Practice and also part of the home visiting service.

Dr Mehta’s specialist interest is in Paediatrics, holding a postgraduate Diploma of Child Health and having jointly published in the Archives of Disease in Childhood during a paediatric post at The John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford.

THE DETAILS

The London General Practice 114a Harley Street, London W1G 7JL (Entrance on Devonshire Street; between Harley Street and Portland Place) Tel: 0207 935 1000

OPEN 24 HOURS A DAY, 7 DAYS A WEEK

Private GP services www.thelondongeneralpractice.com Occupational Health and Corporate Health Services www.londonocchealth.com

YUMMY MUMMY

A LUXURIOUS HAVEN FROM CITY LIFE THE LABORATORY SPA & HEALTH CLUB, MUSWELL HILL

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2020 is a very exciting time for The Laboratory Spa & Health Clubs as this year will see the 25th anniversary of the opening of the Muswell Hill site. From its inception,The Laboratory was always designed to be more than just a health club, it is a private members club, offering an unrivalled combination of luxury, state-of-the-art facilities and five-star customer service. The building was designed using Feng Shui to ensure that the club has a feeling of harmony and balance.

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aving built up a well-deserved reputation for excellence over the last 25 years, The Laboratory has been repeatedly recognised by the fitness industry for its outstanding facilities; twice they have won the auspicious title of UK Health Club Of The Year award at the National Fitness Awards & were also previously voted Best Private Health Club by Time Out Magazine. Whilst winning awards is indeed an honour, Seb Barre, General Manager explains “one of the things we are most proud of, is that 25 years later we still have many of our founder members!” Certainly, the number of Health Clubs who can boast that must be few and far between and is a reflection on the outstanding service that is offered to its members.

“There is a day spa with an extensive treatment range to choose from using the highest quality products” Whether it be a refreshing swim in the spectacular 25 metre UV treated swimming pool, or an energising work-out in the spacious fully equipped, there are all manner of options for your workout. There are also two dedicated studios with one focused more on mind & body classes such as Yoga & Pilates and the other more group fitness based, offering everything from Power Ride to HIIT. With over one hundred classes per week to choose from, you can certainly ensure that your workout routines are varied and interesting.

It is of course also very important to un-wind and the ethos of the Laboratory has always been firmly rooted in the belief that it is important to find a balance between looking after both body and soul. With that in mind, there is a day spa with an extensive treatment range to choose from using the highest quality products (ESPA & Guinot).

Whether you are looking for a deep tissue massage, a facial, craniosacral therapy or a manicure there are experienced therapists on hand who are highly trained and fantastic at what they do. The Day Spa is open every day of the week and non-members are also very welcome to book in for treatments making it a fantastic option when you are struggling to think of a gift for someone special. Gift vouchers are also available if you prefer the recipient to be able to choose when they would like to visit for their treatment.

The juice bar is the perfect place to enjoy a delicious meal, smoothie or a well-made coffee.

You can choose from the extensive menu or pick

something from the daily specials in the knowledge that everything is homemade and designed to be both nutritious and tasty. There is also a take-away service available so that if time is of the essence your food can be prepared for you and be ready and waiting for you when you leave.

So, what exactly happens when you join The Laboratory? The process really couldn’t be any simpler which means that once you have made your decision you really can get going immediately.

When you have had a tour of the club from one of the Management team, they will go through the various membership options with you and fill out the paperwork. You will then be given a fitness screen by one of the Lab Gym Coaches which involves some basic health questions and a quick blood pressure check to ensure that it is safe for you to start exercising. Importantly, there is no Annual Contract as the aim is that members will stay because they love it rather than being tied into a lengthy contract.

Once you are ready to start your exercise regime you will be invited to book in for a Complimentary fitness consultation & program. This will take place up in the gym with one of the highly trained Lab Coaches who will spend time with you discussing what your goals, likes and dislikes are, along with other important information such as if there are any health issues or injuries that they need to be aware of. They will be able to devise a program for you that considers every aspect of the club not just the gym. As part of your membership you can book in for a complimentary re-focus on a monthly basis so that one of the coaches can keep things interesting for you and help to ensure that you stay on the right track!

It is then entirely up to you how you spend your time at the Laboratory as Lab members have full use of all the facilities. Whether your day consists of a swim, a class, a gym work out and sauna or steam or even if you pop in for a treatment and a healthy lunch, hopefully, having used the club you will go home feeling refreshed, revitalised and on course for a healthier, stronger you!

The Laboratory Spa & Health Club, 1A Hall Lane, Mill Hill, London NW4 4TJ 0208 457 3300 www.labspa.co.uk

YUMMY MUMMY

Love your legs again

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Treatment can be as easy as ABC:

or most women, the visible bodily changes of pregnancy are predictable such as weight gain and stretch marks.

One change however, that catches expectant mums off guard are varicose veins.

These are usually first noticed in late pregnancy and are typically blue coloured blood vessels that can start anywhere on the legs extending upwards or outwards. The appearance can vary from big, bulging blue veins to finer, spidery looking lesions.

What Causes Varicose Veins?

The tendency for varicose veins is inherited and therefore runs in families. It is a combination of genetics and mechanics that leads to this often distressing skin change: veins in our legs carry blood back up to the heart, to help with this function they possess valves that stop back flow of blood therefore, cleverly withstanding the effects of gravity.

As the baby grows and the pregnant tummy enlarges, this creates a bigger force for the veins to propel blood up against, resulting in the permanent collapse of veins valves. With the blood not actively moving out of the legs fast enough, this can result in: • The veins enlarging and becoming more visible.

• The legs becoming swollen and aching towards the end of the day.

• The skin overlying the veins becoming irritable causing itching and eczema • The skin around the ankles becoming discoloured or even developing ulcers in advanced cases 80 FEB/MAR 2020

Mr Paritosh Sharma Consultant Vascular Surgeon 108 Harley Street

The Details 108 Vascular Clinic 108 Harley Street London W1G 7ET To book an appointment contact our team on 0207 563 1234 info@108harleystreet.co.uk For further information, visit us at www.108harleystreet.co.uk

Although the appearance of veins and their symptoms can improve after the baby’s birth, this is not always the case. Veins can become more prominent and symptomatic.

Treatments for varicose veins are usually straightforward. These treatments have modernised significantly over the last 15 - 20 years and now usually involve a fairly straightforward laser procedure. Saying that, laser is not suitable for all patients. Depending on the underlying vein involved, other options for vein treatments may be more suitable, including injections of a chemical agent and the more conventional treatment, open surgery, to remove them.

Treatments are usually performed as a day case with the procedure lasting about 30-45 mins.

These procedures can be performed under local anaesthetic, with a degree of sedation or under a full general anaesthetic, tailored according to the treatment and patient choice.

Baby steps to recovery: Recovery following varicose veins surgery (whether it is laser or open) is short, with most patient returning to normal activities straightaway. Patients are usually required to wear stockings for a few weeks.

As we are treating blood vessels, inevitably these procedures do cause a degree of bruising but fortunately, this tends to settle fairly quickly and does not limit return to normal day to day activities.

YUMMY MUMMY

Self-Pay at Parkside Hospital medication for up to 14 days.

• One post-discharge outpatient visit for wound dressing or stitches removal.

• One follow-up consultation with your consultant.

• For weight loss patients - Two dietician appointments.

• For Orthopaedic patients - Hydrotherapy during your stay, physiotherapy & one set of mobility aids for post discharge rehabilitation.

If I need surgery how long will I need to wait?

For most procedures it is usually possible to arrange surgery within 2-3 weeks of your initial Outpatient consultation.

What is Self-Pay? Self-pay is the option to pay for your own treatment.

This alternative solution allows you quick access to high quality treatments with little or no wait time without the need for private insurance. Paying for your own treatment also allows you the freedom to choose the consultant who will look after you. At Parkside Private Hospital we offer a range of selfpay fixed price packages allowing you to fund your own treatment with no unexpected additional costs.

Do you offer any finance options?

Yes, subject to status we can offer monthly payment options for one-off private treatments through Chrysalis Finance. This allows you to spread the cost of your treatment using an interest free low APR finance option which can be arranged in advance.

When can I choose to pay for myself ?

• If the NHS doesn’t cover the treatment you require.

• If you are not eligible for NHS-funded care.

• You are on a waiting list and would like to be treated quicker and at time that is convenient to you.

• If you don’t have private health insurance

• Choice of over 100 expert Consultants who offer a £200 fixed price consultation • Caring nurses • No waiting lists • Transparent pricing • Comprehensive pre and post-surgical care • Flexible finance options available

“This alternative solution allows you quick access to high quality treatments with little or no wait time without the need for private insurance”

Benefits of choosing self-pay at Parkside: • Rated No.1 Private Hospital in London in 2018* by our patients across 15 Categories (*Survey compiled by HWA- Howard Warwick Associates)

Do I need a referral?

We have over 100 expert consultants across a range of specialities, who offer consultations for a fixed fee of £200 without the need for a referral letter.

If my consultant recommends further tests, how do I find out costs?

If at the time of your Outpatient consultation you are recommended to have further tests i.e. blood tests, scans or minor procedures we have a cashier in our Outpatient department who is available until 8pm on weekdays, and can provide you the cost of your treatment, allowing you to make an informed decision before proceeding.

If I need surgery do you have any self-pay packages available?

We have self-pay fixed prices packages for over 80 procedures across a range of specialties.

What is included in your fixed price packages?

• Pre-operative assessment prior to admission*.

• All clinical costs associated with your stay, including consultant & anaesthetist fees for your inpatient care, nursing care and theatre fees.

• Standard prosthesis, if required.

• 24hr on-call doctor.

• Test & scans required during your stay & postdischarge.

• Medication & dressings including take-home 82 FEB/MAR 2020

To find out more about self-pay at Parkside Private Hospital call 02037 402 767 or email: selfpay@parkside-hospital.co.uk www.parkside-hospital.co.uk Please note: Terms & Conditions apply on the self-pay fixed price packages. *This does not include initial consultation fees, diagnostic tests and scans prior to admission